There’s no going back on opening up Croke Park, warns Mulvihill

GAA chief Liam Mulvihill insisted yesterday there was nothing he could envisage happening to prevent rugby and soccer internationals going ahead at Croke Park next year.

Mr Mulvihill was responding to misgivings by Cork Central Council delegate Bob Honohan regarding the decision at last year’s Congress which paved the way for the FAI and IRFU to stage games in the GAA’s headquarters.

Mr Honohan has claimed delegates were under the impression that soccer and rugby would only be allowed into Croke Park when redevelopment work began at Lansdowne Road.

But Mr Mulvihill clarified the issue yesterday, stressing that soccer and rugby will be played at Croke Park next year, regardless of whether or not planning permission for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road has been formally secured by January.

“That’s my understanding. We were told by the IRFU that they would be closing Lansdowne Road early in 2007 and that they would require an alternative. That was the basis on which the (Congress) decision was made. We have no reason to believe there will be any change. Whether they have planning permission or not is a separate issue.”

Mr Mulvihill added any decision on hosting of soccer and rugby matches at Croke Park beyond 2008 will have to be addressed and decided upon at Central Council level. Any post 2007 decision will also be contingent on Lansdowne Road still being closed, and it being clear that the process is still “alive”.

He went on to say those facts should be understood by all, particularly “opportunists” seeking to give substance to the theory that other grounds and the amateur status of the Association are vulnerable to the Croke Park decision.

“It is indeed unfortunate that, before any agreement has even been signed and, a year before any rugby and soccer internationals have been played at Croke Park, efforts have been made to bring these issues into the equation.

“This has not been done by the IRFU or FAI, who have been open and honest in their dealings with the GAA. They understand that they have obligations of their own. They accept that, like the GAA, they must make capital investments of their own.

“They appreciate that they will benefit significantly from the temporary period in which they will be using Croke Park, but that the GAA also has long-term corporate obligations which cannot accommodate expanded indefinite access to its property.”

Mulvihill lamented the fact that important internal issues had been put to one side during the intense debate over the opening of Croke Park and advised GAA members to redirect their minds towards more “bread and butter” issues concerning the Association.

Meanwhile, the GAA’s director general expressed disappointment at the decisions not to include the GAA in the plans for the proposed developments at Lansdowne Road and Tallaght.

“Many of our members feel that, while the GAA receives justifiable Government funding, other sporting organisations receive a lot more proportionally relative to their penetration and investment. Indeed, it is understandable that many will feel that there is more recognition for neglect and inertia than there is for forward thinking and investment.”

Mr Mulvihill, who added that the GAA’s involvement in Abbotstown is also considerably less than expected, said his comments were not criticisms of other organisations but merely the opinion that the GAA’s own efforts have not been recognised to the extent they should have been.

On a brighter note, Croke Park Stadium Director Peter McKenna is aiming to have floodlights installed in time for the International Rules test against Australia in Dublin on November 4.

McKenna also addressed concerns that it would be difficult if not impossible to play hurling under floodlights. Different settings will be used for different sports, with the lowest for soccer, the next for rugby and Gaelic football and the highest for hurling because of the use of such a small ball.

“I’m not an expert on that but we can spec (adapt) them for hurling. The light fixtures will be as good as possible. We’ve already done a lot of research on cricket and baseball.

“I know Babs Keating has issues with it. Our lights will probably be double the power of those at Parnell Park. Technology in this area is getting better all the time.”