Busy weekend in store for delegates

A QUICK glance at the agenda for the GAA’s annual congress, which opens in the Sliabh Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co Down this evening, indicates that it’s going to be a very busy weekend for everyone in attendance.

A total of 123 motions – the biggest number in 15 years – has been submitted and while the bulk of these relate to proposed changes in the playing rules, other important issues such as the landmark recommendation to enshrine formal recognition of the GPA in rule, are being presented to delegates for approval.

A third of the 49 motions on the playing rules come from Central Council and they arise from the report of the playing rules work groups on hurling and football, in other words those rules which were experimented with in the subsidiary competitions in the early part of the year and the Allianz Leagues.