We won’t be touting for business, insists Cooney

GAA President Christy Cooney insisted the Association would not be ‘touting for business’ with regards the future usage of Croke Park by other sports.

Cooney’s comments came after Congress delegates voted to give Central Council the power to decide on any future requests from rival organisations to play games at GAA headquarters.

“We are not looking for anything to host potentially – it’s a matter for people to make requests to us and a matter for Central Council to decide whether it wishes to do so or not.

“It’s not a question that we are going out touting for business. We’re not.”

In contrast to the drama and emotion surrounding the landmark 2005 decision to open Croke Park through the temporary suspension of Rule 42 for the duration of the Lansdowne Road redevelopment, this issue was decided in a matter-of-fact fashion and without much debate.

First to speak was former President Sean Kelly, the public face of a crusade to allow rugby and soccer to be played in GAA headquarters.

Five years ago it was a matter of expediency more than promotion he said, now it was a matter of the latter as Croke Park could accommodate 32,000 more spectators than the new Aviva stadium.

Fellow Kerryman Gerald McKenna, one of a number of high-profile departing Central Council delegates attending their last Congress, said that while everybody knew how much the GAA had earned through the lease of the stadium (€36m), nobody had told them how much extra money the IRFU and FAI had raised.

With long-time campaigner Noel Walsh from Clare unavoidably absent, Roscommon delegate Tommy Kennoy – another strong advocate of the ‘open door’ policy – supported Kelly’s view.

“Let us pass this motion – and put the ball in the court of the other organisations,’’ he said.

“Let other people ask why they can’t be let into Croke Park rather than us not letting them in.”

Opposition came from Bob Honohan from Cork, who had argued strongly against relaxing Rule 42, saying: “for anybody to say that there will be no negatives from making this decision is not true.

“It’s very likely to stir up trouble for the Association in future.’’

He was supported by Tyrone delegate Brendan Harkin. He said: “I would like to say to Sean Kelly that principles cannot be exchanged for money in my book.’’

Then speaking tongue-in-cheek, he made the novel suggestion that if it was all about generating business for the stadium, they should cut out the middle man and organise big rugby or soccer events themselves. And then they could explain to the clubs why they can’t do the same.

“Why not bring over Manchester United and Celtic if it’s about making money,” he asked.