Central Council 'should rule on' stadium

GAA presidential candidate Nickey Brennan has remained neutral on the use of Croke Park by other sports.

Addressing his final Leinster convention from the chair on Saturday, the Kilkenny official said that he believed the GAA's Central Council should have authority to lease out the stadium while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.

"Right now the only issue at stake is whether we should consider facilitating the IRFU and FAI with a stadium during (and only during) the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. I am also of the view that any decision in relation to this matter should be given to Árd Comhairle and we should trust this body to make a judgment based on any request, which might be submitted for the use of the stadium."

Although support for this devolution of authority to Central Council has generally gone hand-in-hand with support for opening the stadium to other sports, Brennan declined to state his personal view.

Welcoming the decision of the Motions Committee to list the matter for debate at annual congress in April he called for resolution on the issue, which has frequently been in the spotlight since a proposal to hand over authority for the use of Croke Park to Central Council narrowly failed four years ago.

"It is time too that the matter was finalised once and for all," said Brennan, "because it is deflecting our association from dealing with issues which in my opinion are far more important to all of us. Since the matter was last debated at Congress some significant changes have taken place regarding the provision of additional playing facilities in Dublin.

"The decision last year by the Government to financially support the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road now means that both the IRFU and the FAI will have a new stadium of their own in a few years. I welcome this development and the Government support, which is being offered to both sporting bodies.

"This decision by the Government now means that neither of these bodies will have a requirement to use any other stadium in the future when the project is completed."

He also emphasised his view that any relaxation of Rule 42, the provision used to prevent rugby and soccer being played at GAA venues, should apply only to Croke Park and should not have implications for local grounds around the country.

"The current debate on Rule 42 is dealing exclusively with the Croke Park stadium and I am of the view that no other stadium or pitch should be considered either now or in the future."

Brennan's opponent in April's presidential election, Christy Cooney from Cork, is opposed to any change in Rule 42.