Catering At Croke Park

A Chara, - Croke Park has recently been in the news because of hygiene problems at catering outlets there

A Chara, - Croke Park has recently been in the news because of hygiene problems at catering outlets there. There is also another aspect of these outlets which should be a source of concern and to which I would like to draw attention.

These outlets consist of open counters around which large crowds gather during big games. The crowds press forward in an uncontrolled mass, shouting at the attendants for attention. When eventually served, people have to turn round and fight their way back through the crowd behind, frequently holding containers of piping hot tea or coffee over the heads of those pressing forward against them. This is clearly an unsatisfactory and potentially dangerous arrangement.

In major stadiums which I have visited in other countries, rows of parallel barriers are used to form people into an orderly queue. Each person is served in turn and exits from the other end of the barriers. I recommended this simple, safe and civilised arrangement in a letter to Liam Mulvihill, director-general of the GAA, prior to the completion of the new Cusack Stand. However, the same antiquated system which prevailed in the Hogan Stand have now been repeated in the new stand. - Is mise,

Proinnsias Breathnach,

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Ma Nuad, Co Chill Dara.