Committee recommend splitting Dublin in two

The Gaelic Athletic Association will consider splitting Dublin into two separate counties for the All-Ireland football championship…

The Gaelic Athletic Association will consider splitting Dublin into two separate counties for the All-Ireland football championship.

The proposal was announced by the Strategic Review Committee - chaired by former GAA President Peter Quinn - in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin this evening.

The committee recommends the change for administrative and playing purposes and also with the hope of reducing the number of promising Dublin footballers turning to other codes.

The review body’s proposal, which would need Congress' approval, suggests the split be phased and targets two Dublin counties - Dublin North and Dublin South - playing in the 2005 Leinster and All-Ireland championships.

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Players would side with Dublin North or Dublin South depending on which side of the River Liffey their club was located.

The hurling set-up in the county would continue as it is.

In another move, the committee recommends that Central Council have say on the use of Croke Park for major international events. At present, a motion to open the doors of Croke Park would need Congress’ approval.

There was also a proposal for the construction of a second major stadium in the capital. Committee members stressed the need for a second stadium to maintain the quality of the overused Croke Park playing surface.

The report recommends the retention of the GAA’s amateur status and recognises that full time staff are needed to assist volunteers in administration.

Other topics such as the merging of the so called 'weaker counties' have also been proposed.