Croke Park will not, for the time being, open its doors to Rugby and Soccer after delegates at today’s annual Congress voted against the motion.
A two-third majority is needed at Congress to push a motion through but the burning issue of Rule 42 - used to prohibit other sports from being played on GAA grounds - fell just two votes short of the 178 minimum requirement.
Motion six on the clár, from the Kilmore club in Roscommon, proposing that Central Council have the power to authorise the use of Croke Park for field games other than those controlled by the association was rejected on a count of 176 to 89.
A large number of delegates called for a recount but GAA President Sean McCague denied such a move stating that the original vote must stand. It is believed over 70 delegates abstained from the voting.
McCague defended his decision not to grant a recount saying: "This has been an established practice of calculation year after year at Congress."
Prior to last night’s announcement that the GAA would receive £60 million towards the redevelopment of Croke Park from the Government over the next three years, many would have expected today’s motion to be passed without qualms.
But, fears that GAA games development would suffer if Croke Park failed to open its doors were abated with last night’s surprising news of further Government aid.
Many county delegates, notably the Wexford representation, claimed during the week that costs of Croke Park’s redevelopment has spiralled out of control. They believed that opening the doors of ‘headquarters’ would provide much-needed revenue to combat those costs.
Meanwhile, the GAA has also decided to specific units of the GAA be allowed sell naming rights to their stadiums, stands and terraces. Such moves will be subject to authorisation from Central Council.