GAA to open Croker

[tiktok]

If the FAI were in the GAA's position, they'd be doing the exact same thing.

Exactly.

It's not the GAA's fault that the government gave them millions in grants.
It's not the GAA's fault that the FAI did so little with the money they've received.
It's not the GAA's fault that there was no provisions put on the money awarded.

Even though I don't like it, I think the GAA are perfectly within their rights to look for money to open up Croker. Money was always going to be the grease on the hinges anyway, the running costs of the stadium are huge.

It's a bit rich to knock the Govt. for giving the money to build Croker though, when they're giving as much to redevelop Landsdowe.

This goes back to the GAA being an amateur association being run professionally and the FAI being a professional association run amateurishly.

[Macy]

It's a bit rich to knock the Govt. for giving the money to build Croker though, when they're giving as much to redevelop Landsdowe.

They should've given the money way back when eP was on the table, then we wouldn't still be discussing it? We'd have our own state of the art stadium by now.

[Dotsy]

as mentioned above... it will be suitable for and available to the GAA

Thanks for that but do you know if is was a condition attached to the government funding for LR that it be made available to the GAA for matches.

[gspain]

Thanks for that but do you know if is was a condition attached to the government funding for LR that it be made available to the GAA for matches.

It is definitely available for GAA. It was part of the conditions announced at the time.

Anyway Lansdowne Road would be available today for GAA if anybody asked the rugby crowd. They'd be happy to rent it out.

Indeed any sporting organisation on this planet would be happy to rent out their facilities for a reasonable fee if not already in use. That is bar one.

[Macy]

The GAA consistently make the point that why should they change their rules - they haven't even been asked by the FAI for the use of the pitch.

They should change it's rules because it's wrong, outdated, hypocritical and bigotted. Whether they then choose to rent out Croker is another thing, but the ban should preclude them from receiving any further Government funds for any part of their organisation.

[gspain]

With all our 'let's blame the Government' 'let's blame the GAA' 'let's blame every other organisation for the woes of the FAI', can anyone tell me whether or not the FAI have ever actually asked to use Croke Park? The GAA consistently make the point that why should they change their rules - they haven't even been asked by the FAI for the use of the pitch.

The F.A.I. don't for fear of embarrassing the GAA.

Limerick asked to use the Gaelic Grounds in 1981 and were refused and indeed had a scheme to buy it and sell it back for less money a day later drawn up but the local GAA backed out of it. They were actually quite supportive and confident it did not break GAA rules but the Munster Council would have slaughtered them and the ground would have been blacklisted for years afterwards. Ballindereen after they gave their pitch to Galway United and didn't host a game for 8 years afterwards. The pitch was community owned to the local GAA club were able to rent it out. they got hit hard for supporting Galway United though.

Statoil also tried to hold the F.A.I. Junior Cup draw in a Croke Park function room.

The GAA haven't changed their rules because of a minority of bigots who would rather burn Croke Park than allow a British game in there.

[boc123]

Exactly.

It's not the GAA's fault that the government gave them millions in grants.
It's not the GAA's fault that the FAI did so little with the money they've received.
It's not the GAA's fault that there was no provisions put on the money awarded.

Even though I don't like it, I think the GAA are perfectly within their rights to look for money to open up Croker. Money was always going to be the grease on the hinges anyway, the running costs of the stadium are huge.

It's a bit rich to knock the Govt. for giving the money to build Croker though, when they're giving as much to redevelop Landsdowe.

This goes back to the GAA being an amateur association being run professionally and the FAI being a professional association run amateurishly.

Finally someone talks sense on this whole issue. I Agree 100% with all the above.

[Donal81]

I can understand the criticism of the GAA as being hypocritical and bigoted. What I don't understand is why people assume or expect them to open it up to the FAI and soccer. While I appreciate soccer, GAA and rugby, I can also appreciate the history of the GAA in which many of its members are steeped. You can call this sectartianism, bigotry or love for the games and their history - it's not going to change either way and I'm not making a case for either option. The GAA have an impressive stadium which was developed to be a modern HQ for gaelic games. I don't think they are obliged to allow in associations which can't get their act together to build their own stadium. It would be nice of them, sure, and I'd love to see an international game played in a decent stadium for once but I don't expect them to be nice.

The GAA might be bolshy towards soccer, some here say they are bigoted, but they aren't obliged to help out soccer or rugby and at least they deliver for their members and aren't run by an incompetent shower of sh*tes. That's why I don't get the ferocity of the criticism here.

[Macy]

Bigoted and sectarian organisations shouldn't get grants and funding. So the Government should withhold all funding until the ban is lifted (for all GAA grounds) on this basis. They'd still have to agree terms for opening any ground up, but their last remaining bigotted rule would be gone.

[tiktok]

So the Government should withhold all funding until the ban is lifted (for all GAA grounds) on this basis.

To do this, the Government would have to declare that the rule was bigoted, and imply that the organisation itself was bigoted and sectarian, that's not going to fly in any constituency.
If they took this approach, I reckon the GAA would dig their heels in and fight it tooth and nail.

[Macy]

To do this, the Government would have to declare that the rule was bigoted, and imply that the organisation itself was bigoted and sectarian, that's not going to fly in any constituency.
If they took this approach, I reckon the GAA would dig their heels in and fight it tooth and nail.

The Organisation is, the Government never would as it's too busy bending over the cabinet table taking it from behind from the GAA, Horsey Set and Doggie Fanciers...

Let the GAA dig in their heels, they'd soon back down when they'd be begging the Government to buy Croker off them to clear their debts (which they can't do on their own).

[boc123]

Bigoted and sectarian organisations shouldn't get grants and funding. So the Government should withhold all funding until the ban is lifted (for all GAA grounds) on this basis. They'd still have to agree terms for opening any ground up, but their last remaining bigotted rule would be gone.

I follow Irish soccer, have done since 1987 with Cork City, I still can't understand all this crap about the GAA. I love GAA as well. Why doesn't soccer sort it's own house out instead of constantly looking to the GAA to blame/cover up their own problems. The GAA owe soccer nothing. The problem lies with the soccer authorities not the GAA. Don't mind the funding, let the footie authorities fight their own corner and stop looking to blame someone else for their own success. I always have thought and I still do that it's pure jealousy of the GAA the leads to this opinion that they owe soccer something. They don't!!!!

[Macy]

I've said many times that it's mainly the Governments faults, however the GAA are still bigoted, as the ban only extends as far as sports that they perceive to be british and protestant. If any other organisation had a similar implied sectarianism it wouldn't get funding.

[Donal81]

Macy, I agree with you in relation to the hypocrisy of allowing the Special Olympics, Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, U2, etc into Croker but not professional sports. I think this comes back to sports competing against each other for attention and advertising, they don't want to allow soccer and rugby a massive piece of free advertising by allowing them to play in Croker. This move would give the FAI an enormous boost. While I don't think it's the friendliest approach in the world and certainly isn't helpful towards Irish sport as a whole, I think it's completely understandable.

[jbyrne]

.. I think this comes back to sports competing against each other for attention and advertising, they don't want to allow soccer and rugby a massive piece of free advertising by allowing them to play in Croker. This move would give the FAI an enormous boost. While I don't think it's the friendliest approach in the world and certainly isn't helpful towards Irish sport as a whole, I think it's completely understandable.

given the english premiership supporting nature of many football "supporters" in Ireland i'd say a major "home" Ireland championship qualifier in Manchester or Liverpool (when lansdowne is being rebuilt) would create far better exposure for football in Ireland than an Ireland match in croke park. just think of the publicity that having to move a home qualifier accross the water would have due to the scandal

also, the sporting publics backlash against the GAA for allowing (whether you consider it to be their fault or not) an Irish home qualifier to be played outside Ireland while an 80,000 stadium lies empty in Ireland would be a PR disaster for them. how could they continue to claim to be supporting all things Irish if they allowed a british football club make a load of cash from a "home" Irish qualifier??

[Donal81]

given the english premiership supporting nature of many football "supporters" in Ireland i'd say a major "home" Ireland championship qualifier in Manchester or Liverpool (when lansdowne is being rebuilt) would create far better exposure for football in Ireland than an Ireland match in croke park. just think of the publicity that having to move a home qualifier accross the water would have due to the scandal

also, the sporting publics backlash against the GAA for allowing (whether you consider it to be their fault or not) an Irish home qualifier to be played outside Ireland while an 80,000 stadium lies empty in Ireland would be a PR disaster for them. how could they continue to claim to be supporting all things Irish if they allowed a british football club make a load of cash from a "home" Irish qualifier??

I see your point but I don't think the GAA will be too concerned about PR when it comes to Croker. The media savvy hierarchy might be but it hasn't affected them so far and I can't see it affecting the grassroots. Remember, the GAA is nothing if not grassroots.

Just to clarify, I would love to see soccer in Croke Park and I wish that those against it in the GAA would reconsider but I'm not a GAA member. If I was a member of the GAA, an amateur organisation drenched in a revolutionary Irish history - look to Crossmaglen for a modern day example - I would not appreciate being told to open up the stadium that my organisation had built in order to cover for the inadequacies of another organisation which has somehow managed to let the last 15 years of unprecedented soccer wealth pass them by. The revolutionary part might be completely outdated but it's still there.

The combined salaries of the Irish starting XI could make a sizeable down payment on their own stadium. The 30 players who take the field in the All-Ireland are back in the bank/truck/farm etc on Monday morning. While soccer players have become coke-snorting, playboy millionaires, the original ethos of the GAA is at least still hanging around. The rich crowd then come to the amateurs because they can't build their own stadium. This isn't a concrete reason for not opening Croker but I can easily see why the GAA aren't exactly sympathetic to the FAI's 'plight'.

I don't think the GAA claims to represent all things Irish. I think they claim to represent the interests of Gaelic games, which they certainly do.

[jbyrne]

I don't think the GAA claims to represent all things Irish. I think they claim to represent the interests of Gaelic games, which they certainly do.

yes, but they also claim to support all things Irish... for example.... they only allow their playing gear etc. to be made in Ireland and while re-building Croke Park they insisted that Irish materials be used where at all possible etc. etc.
dont get me wrong, i support that kind of policy 100% but its because of that very policy that I cant see how they could let mega bucks in rent go to the coffers of a british football club and force many Irish supporters, who mostly also support the GAA, travel abroad to see their country play a "home" qualifier. blame who you like for the stadium mess football/rugby is in at the moment but it would be unbelieveable and in my opinion indefensable if the GAA didnt step in and help out.

[Donal81]

I cant see how they could let mega bucks in rent go to the coffers of a british football club and force many Irish supporters, who mostly also support the GAA, travel abroad to see their country play a "home" qualifier. blame who you like for the stadium mess football/rugby is in at the moment but it would be unbelieveable and in my opinion indefensable if the GAA didnt step in and help out.

From an Irish sporting perspective, it would be miserable, you're right, IMO. The GAA certainly aren't helping Irish soccer and your point that it would also undermine their pride in Irishness and nationalism is spot on. I suppose, though, that your average GAA member who wants to keep Croker closed couldn't give a toss what the FAI does with its money and isn't thinking along your lines.

[1MickCollins]

blame who you like for the stadium mess football/rugby is in at the moment but it would be unbelieveable and in my opinion indefensable if the GAA didnt step in and help out.

So if Dunnes Stores gets into trouble you think Tesco should share their retail space with them? The GAA is in direct competition with soccer for not just bums on seats but kids in every parish in the country who are the future fans, the GAA has a huge competitive advantage over soccer, why would they risk that? The GAA owes nothing to the FAI and I don't think appeals to the national honour should or will have any effect. The FAI should use the GAA as a role model on good management and long term planning - basically the FAI has a better product, in how many school yards throughout the country do kids play football/hurling versus soccer - I think it is at least 95% soccer? Has the FAI made sufficient inroads into the GAA hegemony over the past 30 years?

[Cowboy]

So if Dunnes Stores gets into trouble you think Tesco should share their retail space with them?

As far as i'm aware neither Dunnes nor Tescos have received grants from the taxpayer