Croker ruled out for handball world championship

CROKE PARK will be unavailable for next year’s prestigious World Handball Championships because of its handball centre’s protracted planning permission process.

The GAA’s handball national media and development officer Niamh Egan last night confirmed that the HQ handball centre was no longer being considered as a venue for the competition.

“Eleven months is not a realistic time to turn it around, so we have a list of alternative venues drawn up,” said Egan.

The news is a major blow for the GAA, who had hoped to stage several of the games at the new €9 million national centre in Croke Park.

The World 40x20 championships will now take place in Ulster and north Leinster venues next April, with Kingscourt in Co Cavan expected to be the main venue for major finals.

The World 40x20 competition will be hosted by Breaffy House Sports Hotel and Resort in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

The GAA’s plans to redevelop the Croke Park handball centre has faced opposition from the Croke Park Streets committee, who argue the building should remain a social and community centre.

Last Saturday week, the community group interrupted the GAA’s Annual Congress to protest at the Association’s intention to develop the handball centre.

It is understood they lodged objections to the GAA’s application although Croke Park director Peter McKenna has already described the building as “almost derelict”.

“The amount of objections would have slowed down the initial application,” acknowledged Egan, “but once it got provisional approval with the couple of provisions that had to be adhered to for the bill to go ahead, it went to the second phase.

“At the moment, we have been informed that there has been a delay but as of yet we haven’t been informed by An Bord Pleanála what are the reasons for the delay.”

Handball’s Annual Congress will go ahead this Sunday in Kells, Co Meath after it was postponed last month following an appeal.

It is also understood that appeal came from the Croke Park Streets Committee.

“Congress was initially scheduled for March 25 but the appeal was made on the back of the delay in sending out of the annual report,” explained Egan.

“It went out the week of Congress but according to our bye-laws, the report has to be with members of the county boards a month before it.

“On the back of the appeal, the GAA in conjunction with the Handball Council decided to postpone Congress by a month.”