GAA ask Cork Board to probe Nemo facility use

CROKE PARK officials are to ask the Cork County Board to investigate the circumstances which led to the Irish rugby squad training at the Nemo Rangers facility last month.

However, despite suggestions from GAA President Christy Cooney that Nemo aren’t ‘the only club under the microscope’, Croke Park bosses haven’t plans to investigate if other clubs are providing facilities for non-GAA sports.

The Association’s Management Committee met on Friday night to discuss the February 18 show of ecumenism when Declan Kidney’s panel used the Trabeg facility after the Presentation Brothers College venue became unavailable due to frost.

Croke Park are concerned that the session was in contravention of the Association’s Rule 5.1 which states: “All property including grounds, clubhouses, halls, dressing-rooms and handball alleys owned or controlled by units of the Association shall be used only for the purpose of, or in connection with, the playing of games controlled by the Association.”

However officials of the Nemo club have insisted from the outset that there was no wrongdoing on their part as the sports centre is run not by the GAA club but by a “separate commercial operator”.

When contacted yesterday, Nemo Rangers officials said they had not received any correspondence from Croke Park or from Cork County Board.

But one well-placed source confirmed: “There was a short (management committee) discussion and it was decided that a letter would be sent to the Cork County Board to look into what happened in Nemo Rangers last month.

“It has to be ascertained how the arrangement came about, who made the first contact and what was involved. The Nemo issue is the only one which is being followed up. No one else is being contacted regarding the use of club grounds and facilities by other sports.”

Last week, Christy Cooney suggested the issue of non GAA sports on GAA facilities was something the Association ‘have to monitor’.

He said: “I don’t think Nemo are the only club under the microscope, we’ll have to look at that whole situation and how we are going to manage it. There’s a rule there and we are very clear on our rules with regard to the use of association property and there is no change on that. It’s something we have to monitor. I think it’s on a very limited basis. We’ll look at it very closely before we come out and condemn and criticise and make sure that we are being fair and balanced on clubs.”

Ironically Ireland coach Declan Kidney heaped praise on Nemo – and the GAA – for their assistance.

“Nemo came to the rescue and we were able to get all the work we had planned done out there. I’d be forever grateful, and I’d say everybody involved in Irish rugby would be forever grateful, to the GAA for opening up Croke Park. There are commercial ventures around the country and if it’s win-win for everybody, why not let it work?

” I think it also shows how the GAA, as an organisation, have built some great facilities.”