Páirc Uí Chaoimh given green light to host Euro 2025 qualifier v France

The stream of rugby and soccer fixtures being staged at GAA venues was raised as a concern for some delegates at the meeting in Croke Park on Saturday with calls for a wider debate on the use of GAA facilities. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Central Council have given the green light for SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh to host a women’s Euro 2025 qualifier against France on July 16.

The Ballintemple venue will host the League A Group A3 game following an approach by the FAI as the Aviva Stadium is not available due to pitch renovations and Tallaght Stadium could be unavailable due to Shamrock Rovers’ Champions League first-round tie.

However, the stream of rugby and soccer fixtures being staged at GAA venues was raised as a concern for some delegates at the meeting in Croke Park on Saturday with calls for a wider debate on the use of GAA facilities.

At the previous Central Council meeting, delegates were split on a motion to speak to counties before allowing Leinster rugby matches to be staged at Croke Park. However, GAA president Jarlath Burns used his casting vote to favour immediate stadium access to Leinster Rugby.

Leinster beat Northampton Saints in a European Cup semi-final in GAA HQ two weeks ago and could return there for a URC last-four game early next month.

Meanwhile, Burns’ recent remarks defending the GAA’s GAAGO commercial initiative with RTÉ was strongly endorsed at the Ard Chomhairle meeting. There was support for Burns’ claims that some of the commentary about the premium streaming service was uninformed and politically motivated.

GAAGO is to be used on All-Ireland final days to enhance the build-up to the two games on July 21 and 28. The show on the platform will commence earlier than RTÉ and BBC’s coverage.

That was one recommendation by a committee led by Terry Reilly of Antrim. However, as reported by the Irish Examiner earlier this week, there was no suitable curtain-raiser found for the finals. Instead, it was agreed that more entertainment will be added to the Clár an Lae so as to improve the stadium experience.

It was confirmed it won’t be until next month’s meeting that the Central Competitions Control Committee will put forward options aimed at possibly pushing the All-Ireland finals into August or September.

Central Council also agreed to call on the Israel government for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

The decision comes after a meeting between Burns and members of the “Gaels Against Genocide” movement and a statement calling for such on a humanitarian level is anticipated.

The Tier 2 All-Ireland minor football championship will now be named after Paul McGirr, who passed away while scoring a goal for Tyrone in an Ulster minor football championship game in 1997.

The Seamus Heaney Cup is also to be repurposed as the award for winning the Tier 2 All-Ireland MFC trophy.