GAA to probe use of Wexford club grounds

CROKE PARK has confirmed that officials have asked the Wexford County Board to report to the Leinster Council on Faythe Harriers’ usage of their all-weather facilities.

For the second time in the space of 12 months, central authorities have reason to believe that a club has allowed non-GAA activity to take place on Association-owned grounds, which would contravene Rule 5.1 of their official code.

Cork football kingpins Nemo Rangers escaped with a reprimand after the Ireland rugby team trained at their Trabeg sports centre last February. Now Croke Park have ordered Wexford’s management committee to explain Harriers’ situation to their provincial body after they received a complaint.

“Wexford have been asked to investigate the matter and report back to the Leinster Council,” acknowledged GAA communications manager Alan Milton. “Obviously, this is normal practice for such a matter as we can’t address every single issue ourselves.”

Model County chairman Ger Doyle confirmed that he had spoken with the Wexford town club about their Páirc Carman grounds.

“We as a county board have been requested by Croke Park to look into Faythe Harriers usage of their facilities,” said Doyle. “We received a letter in connection with this from Croke Park. We’re facilitating the investigation. We’ve asked Faythe Harriers for a detailed report regarding usage of their facilities and who is using their all-weather pitch.

“We have to see that the facilities are being used solely for GAA purposes. As soon as we get the full report, we will go back to Croke Park. That’s as far as we can take it at the moment. We hope to have the report finished in a couple of days and sent to the Leinster Council by the end of the week.”

Faythe Harriers chairman Paud Browne and PRO William Murphy were unavailable for comment last night.

While several clubs across the country are enduring serious financial hardship, the GAA is remaining steadfast behind their rule which states that “grounds controlled by Association units shall not be used or permitted to be used, for horse racing, greyhound racing, or for field games others than those sanctioned by Central Council”.

Special dispensation has been given to Central Council to dictate the use of Croke Park for non-GAA games.

Punishment for contravening Rule 5.1 carries automatic suspension “which can be removed only by the county committee or higher council concerned”.

However, Nemo Rangers were let off with a slap across the wrists as they had reportedly not been aware of the identity of the group (the IRFU) who had made the booking to use their indoor training pitch.

The GAA has stated they intend in clarifying the rule whereby playing grounds would be distinguished from other facilities under the auspices of a club. But director general Páraic Duffy admitted this might lead to the letting of GAA grounds for other sports fixtures.