When the heights hit the fans

Tickets for the upper tiers of the stands in Croke Park are to carry warnings for sufferers from vertigo following a significant number of incidents involving GAA fans seated on the highest level of the New Stand in recent years.

It was revealed this week that the height and scale of the upper tier of the New Stand (on the sight of the old Cusack Stand) had made a number of customers uncomfortable to such a degree that they had required an escort back to the lower levels.

A number of extra hand rails are being installed to alleviate the sense of unease.

"It is a condition and it has to be allowed for," said Liam Mulvihill, the GAA's director general.

"I think the fact that the Cusack Stand was isolated for the past few years made the height seem more exaggerated and patrons seated close to the edge might feel a little uncomfortable. The hope is that once the new developments are completed and sit at a similar level, they won't feel so exposed.

"It is perfectly safe, of course, but it can take a little getting used to, particularly for people unaccustomed to such heights," he continued. The completion of the state-of-the-art stadium will also bring about an end to the traditional system whereby tickets were allocated for individual stands. Within three years, championship tickets will be distributed on a tiered basis, with seat markings identifiable by colour blocks.

And while each of the new stand facilities will be uniform in terms of design and scale as viewed from pitchside, the interior of each facility will have an individual lay-out. The present facilities in the New Stand will be completely revamped before those in the new development on the site of the old Hogan Stand are unveiled.

The Central Council have stipulated that a presentation platform should be incorporated into the design for the new development on the Hogan Stand site, facilitating a possible return to the tradition of presenting All-Ireland silverware from that area. "There were two debates last year; the issue of crowds on the pitch after games and the presentation of the cup," Mulvihill said.

"The first directive was laid down by safety officers, it was out of the GAA's hands. In relation to the presentation, well, it had always been a Hogan Stand affair and people had to crowd around that part of the ground to feel involved. By making it equidistant, it meant everyone could see the ceremony."

While he did not rule out a return to the traditional site for the ceremony, Mulivhill confirmed that this year's presentations will be conducted at centrefield.

It was also announced that a specially reserved children's area, complete with activities and a restaurant, is to be incorporated in the new-look stadium.

The section between the site of the old Cusack Stand and the Canal End is being developed purely for youngsters and should be able to accommodate up to 1,000 once the structural work has been finished.

While two pedestrian bridges are being erected over the canal behind the stadium, they will be reserved for premium and corporate box ticket holders. All other ticket holders for the Canal End will enter the ground via the Hogan or Cusack ends.

The fact that the stadium currently has only two functioning dressing-rooms (the old rooms underneath the Hogan tunnel have been razed) means that the minor teams for this year's championship games will prepare for games in temporary dressingrooms situated under the Canal structure.

And despite a number of applications for concerts at the venue, none will take place this year. It was felt that the levelling of the Hogan Stand would lead to an unreasonable noise level for nearby residents.

Music turns will therefore be confined to the half-time shows on All-Ireland final Sundays.

Meanwhile, Meath's Tommy Dowd and Enda McManus, with the Sam Maguire Cup in tow, will attend a match and hold a training session with the Brussels underage Gaelic footballers this weekend.

The visiting group will also bring the trophy on a visit to the Irish College in Leuven.

The Brussels GAA club was one of the founders of the European Board of the GAA which was established at a meeting in Amsterdam last November.

The weekend will culminate in a senior match at the British School in Tervuren, when Brussels will face a Rest of Europe selection made up of players of the other clubs affiliated to the European Board.

Representatives of the European Board will also use the event to begin the task of selecting a manager and panel for the European team to participate in the International Gaelic football tournament in Dublin next September.