Croke Park

**janeymac** · 15/01/2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Bluetonic

You'd think they footed all the money for it them self. 114m euro of the 260m came from public funds. Lotto funds and the money from the advance sale of premium tickets and corporate boxes paid for phase 1.

Where did I say that they footed all the money themselves? What I suggested was that it took a lot of guts to actually plan and commence such a redevelopment in the late '80s, early '90s because money was short. The Irish Gov. did not agree to fund them 114m euro at that stage and immigration was still high - so it was hard to predict that anyone could afford to buy premium tickets. Compare them to the IRFU - they didn't do anything with Lansdowne Road. (And, if you are complaining about the amount of grant money they got - Croke Park is/will be used by your average Irish citizen (taxpayer) a lot more than Lansdowne Rd will ever be.

I would ask you not to make assumptions, I never said I was a Dublin supporter. Thank you.

So, why did you go and see Dublin twice in the one season (in bad weather conditions). Was it so you could have another reason to moan about the bad design of Croke Park?

**janeymac** · 15/01/2009, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Schumi

What has Cathal Dervan got to do with the FAI?

He should have very little to do with the FAI (imo). Someone obviously had to leak the story to him from the FAI. The IRFU would have had similar issues of access about access to Croke Park, but they obviously had a better relationship with the GAA and didn't go running to the press.

**jbyrne** · 15/01/2009, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by janeymac

He should have very little to do with the FAI (imo). Someone obviously had to leak the story to him from the FAI. The IRFU would have had similar issues of access about access to Croke Park, but they obviously had a better relationship with the GAA and didn't go running to the press.

it wouldnt need a leak. the media would know that they got/didnt get access to the pitch anyway as they follow the team around on international weeks. as far as i remember on one occasion the football access was restricted when the rugbys was not. no big deal really
on another occasion trapp decided against training in cp the night before the game. that was his call not the gaa

**janeymac** · 15/01/2009, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

it wouldnt need a leak. the media would know that they got/didnt get access to the pitch anyway as they follow the team around on international weeks. as far as i remember on one occasion the football access was restricted when the rugbys was not. no big deal really
on another occasion trapp decided against training in cp the night before the game. that was his call not the gaa

Problem was though, it was turned into a big deal. Why didn't the FAI issue a statement saying it wasn't a big deal then. It just left the door open for internal county gaa moans about no access to Croke Park for them before their county games. (As far as I remember, I think the GAA had to prepare CP for a gaa game, and that is why access was restricted). Timing was better for IRFU with their games.

**Schumi** · 15/01/2009, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by janeymac

He should have very little to do with the FAI (imo). Someone obviously had to leak the story to him from the FAI. The IRFU would have had similar issues of access about access to Croke Park, but they obviously had a better relationship with the GAA and didn't go running to the press.

In answer to a question about FAI gaffes, you said:

Cathal Dervan slagging off Ireland's Call, comparing NI/Ulster rugby players not respecting AnaB (unlike the Irish soccer team) - not a good thing to do just prior to the Ireland v England game.

What has that got to do with the FAI?

I think looking for extra access for training sessions was reasonable myself.

**janeymac** · 15/01/2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

In answer to a question about FAI gaffes, you said: What has that got to do with the FAI?

This is what I said - Post No. 75.

The FAI made a few gaffs when dealing with the GAA (I realise that it was Cathal Dervan who was one of the culprits for trying to stir up trouble, but it reflected badly on the FAI/Irish soccer, but I think the one about team access to Croke Park was needless).

I think looking for extra access for training sessions was reasonable myself.

Absolutely reasonable request. But most would have understood that the GAA needed the time to prepare the ground (having had a rugby game on the pitch the sat before) for a gaa game at the weekend (two days later, which is when as far as I can remember the soccer team wanted access).

**Bluetonic** · 15/01/2009, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by janeymac

Where did I say that they footed all the money themselves? What I suggested was that it took a lot of guts to actually plan and commence such a redevelopment in the late '80s, early '90s because money was short. The Irish Gov. did not agree to fund them 114m euro at that stage and immigration was still high - so it was hard to predict that anyone could afford to buy premium tickets. Compare them to the IRFU - they didn't do anything with Lansdowne Road. (And, if you are complaining about the amount of grant money they got - Croke Park is/will be used by your average Irish citizen (taxpayer) a lot more than Lansdowne Rd will ever be.

I'm not comparing the Croke Park development with Lansdowne road and I never accused or insinuated you said they footed all the money themselves. I'm also not complaining about the public monies granted for the Croke Park development. The fact of the matter here is that the stadium design was compromised to save money. Thats a fact.

Originally Posted by janeymac

So, why did you go and see Dublin twice in the one season (in bad weather conditions). Was it so you could have another reason to moan about the bad design of Croke Park?

This is all getting a bit tedious but when did I say I went to see Dublin twice in the one season (in bad weather conditions) as you put it?

You should try reading before misquoting me for a third time.

**janeymac** · 15/01/2009, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by Bluetonic

I'm not comparing the Croke Park development with Lansdowne road and I never accused or insinuated you said they footed all the money themselves. I'm also not complaining about the public monies granted for the Croke Park development. The fact of the matter here is that the stadium design was compromised to save money. Thats a fact.

You made this comment, which is what I responded to.

Originally Posted by Bluetonic View Post
You'd think they footed all the money for it them self. 114m euro of the 260m came from public funds. Lotto funds and the money from the advance sale of premium tickets and corporate boxes paid for phase 1.

The comment that you make sounds more like someone having a dig at the gaa & croke park.

This is all getting a bit tedious but when did I say I went to see Dublin twice in the one season (in bad weather conditions) as you put it?

You should try reading before misquoting me for a third time.

This is what you said about your attendance in Croke Park.

Originally Posted by Bluetonic View Post
I take if weren't there last year on August 9th so. Spectators spent the game moving from the lower tiers to the upper tiers to avoid be soaked (good enough for the Kerry fans). The lack of cover in the lower levels from around PP down is the biggest design flaw of the stadium. I can think of at least one game every summer that I have been at where there has been heavy rain.

August 08 Dublin v Tyrone
June 07 Dublin v Meath
etc..,
etc...,

These are just games I have attended. There are many rainy days in the Irish summer.

My humble apologies for jumping to the conclusion that you might be a Dublin supporter because you went to see Dublin at least twice in the last couple of years.

I hope you recover from the pain I must have caused you for coming to that conclusion and for stating that you are a Dublin gaa supporter on this message board.

**Bluetonic** · 15/01/2009, 4:09 PM

Thanks. x

**hunt4the** · 12/02/2009, 2:03 PM

Brilliant atmosphere in Croke Park last night,
And I always put it down to just.... Croker having no atmosphere!

All you need for atmosphere is to go one down unexpectedly against modest opposition,
coupled with a sprinkling of half chances a disallowed goal for both sides, a gift from the gods penalty,
and your talismanic striker (who's club form has struggled of late) to bag the winner!!

I thought the second half last night was the best we've seen since 2001

**elroy** · 13/02/2009, 7:58 PM

Originally Posted by hunt4the

Brilliant atmosphere in Croke Park last night,
And I always put it down to just.... Croker having no atmosphere!

All you need for atmosphere is to go one down unexpectedly against modest opposition,
coupled with a sprinkling of half chances a disallowed goal for both sides, a gift from the gods penalty,
and your talismanic striker (who's club form has struggled of late) to bag the winner!!

I thought the second half last night was the best we've seen since 2001

Ironically better atmosphere despite 20k less people than on other nights. The circumstances had something to do with it, but i think the fact that a higher percentage of the crowd actually cared how Ireland got on also was a contributing factor. The 20k missing must've been the lot that used to try and start the mexican wave when they were bored.