GAA concern over Tallaght strategy

THE GAA is seeking an ‘early’ meeting with Sports Minister John O’Donoghue to voice concern over his insistence that only soccer can be played in the planned new stadium in Tallaght.

The stadium is to be the new home of Shamrock Rovers.

A statement issued yesterday inferred that the association did not agree with the minister when he expressed doubts that the protestations of local GAA clubs reflected opinion in the ‘higher echelons’ of the organisation.

The GAA pointed out that the issues regarding the stadium were causing ‘considerable concern’ to the association, particularly in Dublin. And, it confirmed that an ‘early meeting’ between senior representatives of the association and the Minister was being sought.

Mr O’Donoghue has insisted that the GAA are not being discriminated against and pointed out that the association had benefited considerably from Government funding through his department in recent years.

Six local clubs - St. Jude’s, Thomas Davis, Faughs, St. Mark’s, St. Anne’s and Croi Ro Naofa - want the pitch and the dressing rooms extended so that the stadium could cater for Gaelic Games.

These clubs have also taken legal advice on the matter and may seek a judicial review.

Meanwhile, Dublin chairman Gerry Harrington pointed out that the clubs had the full support of the County Committee in their endeavours to have the Tallaght stadium opened to them.

“The six clubs who are making a stand had a meeting with the Management Committee and I gave them a slot at the County Committee meeting of March 20,’’ he commented. “They outlined their propositions and the County Committee backed them unanimously and supported them

“However, that is as far as we in Dublin can really go,’’ he added.

Elsewhere last night, the fact that Nickey Brennan has agreed to meet with the GPA in May after he takes over as president of the GAA is unlikely to assuage anger among the playing membership with what they perceive to be lack of progress on the contentious issue of suffering financial loss because of a ‘professional’ commitment to county teams.

This was made clear yesterday by GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell in advance of tomorrow’s ‘emergency’ meeting of members, which is being split between venues in Portlaoise and Belfast. And, while Farrell agreed that talk of strike action was no more than media speculation at this stage, he warned that players were nevertheless ‘fairly militant and strident.’

And, while they had made certain progress with the Government in their campaign to have players grant-aided, he said it was accepted that the GPA could not advance on this matter without the support of the GAA.

Farrell visited up to eight counties over the last two weeks in a bid to ‘gauge reaction’ among their members. This had proved worthwhile, he said, pointing out that sitting in an office in Dublin meant he could be ‘a bit removed’ from feelings on the ground.

What he encountered was a general frustration over welfare issues and insurance-related problems within counties and a sense of annoyance at the lack of progress on the grants issue.

What also came across was a ‘sense of general apathy’ from officialdom towards players and ‘the players movement.’

In regard to the announcement that incoming president Nickey Brennan will meet with the GPA in May to discuss the grants proposal, Farrell predicted that this would do nothing to lessen anger among the players. “We were always going to meet with the president anyway,’’ he said. It was just a matter of ‘when.’ Obviously, there’s a degree of inevitability about it.

“We have met with the last couple of presidents and players feel there has been no huge movement in that time.”

On the thorny issue of the sports grants proposal, Farrell said they understood from the Government that the GAA would need to be on board - because they would administer such a scheme.

Farrell refused to be drawn about the possible outcome to the weekend meetings, commenting: “talk about strike action is being media-driven and I am not going to preempt what’s going to be said. It will be all about gauging the mood among the players.

“And, ultimately it’s the players who will decide what course of action, if any, they want to take. This won’t be driven by the ‘top table’ of the GPA.’’

* Former Tyrone captain Peter Canavan has come out in support of the association’s grants proposal. In his view, it’s the ideal opportunity for players to be compensated for loss of earnings resulting from their commitment to the games.