Polls finds public support for Rule 42 change

The results of an opinion poll published this morning have revealed overwhelming public support for opening Croke Park to soccer…

The results of an opinion poll published this morning have revealed overwhelming public support for opening Croke Park to soccer and rugby.

The poll, carried out by Lansdowne Market Research on behalf of The Starnewspaper, finds that 76 per cent of Irish adults favour GAA headquarters being opened up to "foreign" sports.

Furthermore, two-thirds of the public favour non-GAA games being played in other GAA stadiums around the country.

As the annual GAA Congress gets under way in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel this evening, the contentious Rule 42 issue is again likely to dominate the agenda.

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A Co Clare motion drafted by the St Joseph's club in Milltown Malbay for the amendment of the Rule, which is used to prevent other sports being played at Croke Park, has been tabled for tomorrow morning’s session at 10 a.m. A similar motion, brought forward by Roscommon, was defeated at last year’s Congress by one vote.

Former GAA president Peter Quinn believes no amendment will be achieved this year.

"I do believe the motion will be defeated again, and that the majority of members will conclude that this is not the time to make a change," Quinn said on RTÉ's Prime Timelast night.