DANIEL K. SULLIVAN,
Sir, - Taking the opportunity that the recent report on Stadium Ireland has given us, and in advance of the election, I have a suggestion: Given the considerable time, effort and simple hard work that the many sports organisations, in particular the GAA, in Ireland have had to go to to offer sport to the citizens and in the absence of any real public policy on funding sports and recreational activities since the foundation of the State, I would suggest that the State buy Croke Park (less the money given already specifically for the current development), Lansdowne Road, Pairc Úi Chaoimh and the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick and develop them to meet the needs of the country.
I am sure that arrangements can be made to ensure that the organisations retain most of the gate money and that the grounds would be available for traditional dates i.e. Croke Park would be made available for the All Ireland ahead of any soccer matches. The money given to the organisations for their grounds would then be used by the organisations to fund full-time coaches and development where a central facility is not required.
Imagine: Dublin Gaelic matches and perhaps some Leinster finals might fit in a remodelled 55,000-seater Lansdowne Road, Munster rugby and hurling into a 20,000 to 35,000 seater Gaelic grounds and a 30,000 to 55,000-seater ground in Cork available for a Cork-Kerry All Ireland!
We do not need three stadiums in Dublin at the cost of developing facilities around the rest of the country. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN,
Collinswood,
Dublin 9.