Munster chairman gives guarded response

Sean Kelly, chairman of the GAA in Munster, has responded cautiously to suggestions that the province's rugby team be allowed use GAA venues for big European matches.

The prospect - currently not allowed under GAA rules - came into focus as thousands queued in vain for tickets to this weekend's quarter-final against Biarritz in Thomond Park, Limerick.

Two other prominent GAA personalities in the province came out, however, in favour of the idea. Eamonn Cregan and Jimmy Barry-Murphy, All-Ireland hurling winners as both players and managers, expressed support for accommodating the rugby team.

Should Munster win and get a favourable draw they would be entitled to play the semi-final in Ireland but not at the province's home venues of Thomond Park or Musgrave Park in Cork. Given the stipulation that the venue should have a capacity of at least 30,000, this means that Lansdowne Road is the only ground at Munster's disposal.

The GAA has four grounds in Munster - Thurles, Limerick, Killarney and Cork - which satisfy the requirement.

Stressing that such an accommodation could not happen under GAA rules, Kelly expressed reservations in his personal response. "You have to look at the whole picture from a goodwill point of view but also from other angles. Allowing other sports use our facilities without general guidelines being in place can create difficulties.

"The arguments are based on money and making gestures but the GAA might lose a bit more than it would gain. There's for and against. Just today we (St Brendan's College in Killarney) were looking for a pitch for a Munster Colleges' quarter-final and couldn't find one. When we don't know whether we've a pitch ourselves, there might be questions if we went around giving pitches to other sports. You can't deal with this issue in isolation without putting safeguards in place."

The need for safeguards is based on fears that local clubs might come under pressure to lease their property if the principle was established at a higher level.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy feels such fears are exaggerated. "I don't think it's a problem at all. Every case should be judged on its merits. We were told in the 1960s and early 1970s that there would be a problem removing the ban on foreign games. That proved groundless. Certainly I'd rather see a soccer match in Croke Park than a pop concert. It's a matter of principle."

Limerick hurling manager Eamonn Cregan has no doubts about offering Munster rugby a venue closer to home than Dublin. "I would of course," he said. "There were 2,000 to 2,500 people outside Thomond Park today who had to go away disappointed because the capacity is only 13,000. You would have 40,000 at least interested in going if they could get the tickets. I think the GAA should make inter-county venues available for big events. There are special situations. We have a training session scheduled for Sunday but it will be early and won't last too long.

"I feel there's a unique situation in Limerick in that everyone follows all sports. You'd be surprised at the number of GAA players who'll be there on Sunday. I'd love to go but would hate to deprive a rugby follower of a ticket. I've been at rugby matches all my life even when the ban was in force. You can't turn around to fellas you were in school with and tell them in effect `you're inferior'."

Allowing rugby or soccer to be played in GAA grounds is currently interpreted as being contrary to Rule 42 of the Official Guide. The text of the rule actually states that the use of GAA grounds can be used "for other such purposes not in conflict with the aims and objectives of the association, that may be sanctioned from to time by the Central Council".

The GAA has, however, held to the view that the matter is of sufficient sensitivity that only Congress should decide the question of repeal. It is expected that April's congress will debate the subject. A motion to abolish, submitted by the Shanahoe club in Laois, was deferred twice within the past 12 months - from the annual and special congresses - to this year.

The impetus has come from concerns expressed about the financing of the Croke Park redevelopment and a consequent perceived need to raise funds through renting the headquarters facilities.