Croke Park big issue

Gaelic Games County conventionsSligo County Board chairman Joe Queenan told delegates at yesterday's convention he was in favour of a proposal to lease Croke Park for other sports.

Queenan said the proposal by the St Geraldine's club in Arklow suggesting the leasing of Croke Park to the Government for five sporting events a year over a five-year period, would "satisfy the majority of Gaels in the country and bring in much needed revenue for the association".

The chairman said it was "time to move on with confidence to other important issues facing the GAA in the new century".

However, the Arklow motion was strongly criticised by the Antrim County Board chairman, Joe O'Boyle, at their convention in Belfast yesterday. O'Boyle said: "It is regrettable that some units are trying to allow other sports to avail of our facilities by alternative routes. The question must be asked, why should we lease our stadium to a Government that reneged on an agreement committing major grants to the development of the stadium?

"Are we foolish enough to give up our only bargaining tool without receiving something in return? What other organisation would be foolish enough to lease its property to major competitors to promote their sports at our expense? I challenge the Irish Government to honour its written commitment to the GAA."

In Tipperary, county board chairman Donal Shanahan said relegating any of the current strong counties in hurling, as proposed by the Hurling Development Committee, would not improve the standard among weaker counties.

"I believe that the problems are at underage level. Until such time as there is a well organised minor hurling championship for the weaker counties we will never reach the stage where more than 12 counties have a realistic chance of competing in the closing stage of the All-Ireland championship", he said.