Residents around the Croke Park stadium in Dublin have called on the GAA to stop holding football and hurling matches on Saturday, saying their right to free movement is being restricted.
More than 100 local residents picketed Saturday's All-Ireland football quarterfinal between Meath and Westmeath. But following yesterday's draw in the hurling semi-final between Wexford and Tipperary, they face another Saturday match at Croke Park next weekend.
Saturday matches are a relatively new innovation for the GAA, but their number has been increasing in recent years. The residents say they are effectively blockaded in their streets by the movement and traffic caused by large crowds.
"Our lives are restricted enough on Sundays without having to put up with another dose of this on Saturdays," said Mr Bill Byrne, vice-chair of the residents' alliance. He called on the association to hold more games outside Dublin.
The GAA said it has tried to avoid Saturday matches "where at all possible". Of the 29 extra games this season, only one had been held in Croke Park.
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