Too soon to say goodbye to the Hill

Methinks that it is a tad too early to say goodbye to the Hill. The signs are that a surge of indignation is beginning to build up among ordinary folk who have failed to understand why An Bord Pleanala decided to insist that Hill 16 should be a seated area in the context of the completed Croke Park development.

And it is not only among ordinary folk that this view persists. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Joe Doyle, has added his voice to the protests and that, surely, is a significant development. The Green Party has also expressed its view on that matter and has, as a direct result, gained at least one vote as a a result - mine!

The lack of thought in An Bord Pleanala's decision in insisting that Hill 16 be seated before the completion of the development of the Hogan and Nally stands defies all logic. Why should they require it and, thereby, seriously upset the GAA's visionary and ambitious plans.

For a start, it would now appear that safety matters are not within the remit of An Bord Pleanala. These are matters for the GAA itself, the fire officers, the Garda Siochana and the stewards on the day itself. The board ord also seems to be out of kilter with the norms that apply in other football stadiums in Europe. For instance, there is a standing area in what is regarded as the most spectacular stadium in Europe - the Nou Camp in Barcelona. I am reliably informed by a man who was there that there is a standing area in that stadium and, oddly enough, on the upper deck of one of the stands.

In the San Siro Stadium in Milan there is also a designated standing area while in the brand new stadium in Genoa, which is also shared by the Sampdoria club for which Liam Brady played once upon a time, there is a seated area which the patrons use by standing on the seats. I kid you not! What are the chances of patrons of Hill 16 doing the same thing? Now, it also makes a lot of sense that, in the event of a problem arising on Hill 16, escape is more easily obtained from a standing area than from an area where there are seats. Can you imagine the scene there in the event of a major problem arising when people, attempting to get away, are forced to clamber over seats as they scramble to safety. Surely the space could be cleared much faster if people did not have to do so. It appears that Croke Park is now, and justifiably so, going ahead with an appeal for the postponement of the seating of Hill 16 at least until the Canal End, Hogan Stand and Nally Stand developments are completed. It appears that An Bord Pleanala want them to seat Hill 16 as the next part of the development. That doesn't involve any logic either. One is tempted to echo what Butch Cassidy said to the Sundance Kid when they were being pursued by the possee just before they were trapped and had to jump into the river: "Who are these guys?". Perhaps the members of An Bord Pleanala might make themselves visible to the people who will be affected by their decision and make themselves available to answer questions. Presumably taxpayer's money is involved.

Not surprisingly many people in the GAA are not at all impressed by what is happening. As one put it to me, the decision on Hill 16 was dictated by an "upper middle-class, knee-jerk reaction". It has been said here before and also in a number of letters to the editor of this newspaper that this is a cultural matter which should be treated in such a way. There is a genuine need for An Taisce to take an interest and protect Hill 16 in the same way as they would protect a great Georgian mansion. There are many strands to our culture and Hill 16 is just as valuable as posh old houses or ancient monuments. As well as that it would appear that An Bord Pleanala has overstepped its powers in this matter. The board does not appear to have a responsibility for safety but, if it has, it would seem to have a rather warped view of what safety at football and hurling matches in this country is all about. One could question members of the board as to whether any of them stood on Hill 16 and watched a big match? I think we should be told. Surveys carried out on Hill 16 and its environs by the GAA and the Garda over a number of years indicate that any problems arising there have been minor and have diminished since the area was modernised a few years ago.

Much of the thinking behind stadium safety has been influenced by English hooliganism and its aftermath in various places. Nothing has happened at Croke Park which could in any way mark what happened when English soccer fans staged a deliberate riot in Lansdowne Road. As somebody who has attended various sporting events in this country over a period of many years I can say that the only time when I was frightened was the day John Atteyo scored that famous goal to force an English draw in Dalymount Park. Getting out that day was a nightmare. It is no exaggeration to say that one feels safe at all football and hurling stadiums in this country (except, perhaps, when you are confronted by Alsatian dogs which, thankfully, doesn't happen very often).

The entire furore about Hill 16 is totally unnecessary and is, in fact, insulting to those who enjoy going there to get a unique and enjoyable view of the match, regardless of who is playing. It is a place where anyone from any county can go and indulge in the good-natured banter, which is part and parcel of what Hill 16 is all about. Every effort should now be made, right up to Cabinet level, to bring some sanity into the equation and allow the GAA, at the very least, to complete the work on the Canal End, the Hogan Stand and the Nally Stand before any final decision is made about Hill 16. Any other decision would indicate an attitude within An Bord Pleanala which is totally out of touch with how people within the GAA, and countrywide, love our games and Croke Park in particular. Hands Off Hill 16!