Cork reaction: The removal of Rule 42 may have been opposed by Cork's County Board but the mood among GAA folk in the county was far from despondent yesterday, with most approving of the opening up of Croke Park. However, some still voiced opposition to such a move.
Out in Blackpool, in the heart of Glen Rovers country, the mood was mixed, with many in Geaneys bar welcoming the move and others expressing support for the Cork County Board's decision to retain the status quo and the ban on soccer and rugby at Croke Park.
Sitting beneath pictures of his Glen and Cork team-mates, Christy Ring and Jack Lynch, 89-year-old Sonny Buckley is one of three brothers who won All-Ireland hurling medals with Cork in the 1940s and the longest surviving All-Ireland winning hurling captain.
"I wasn't in favour of opening it up - long 'go the rugby was very elitist; all bank clerks and insurance clerks and they had all the influence. Now it's the GAA that's elitist and has the influence," said Sonny, who captained Cork to victory in the 1941 All-Ireland final.
Sonny was in Geaneys watching Manchester Utd take on Newcastle Utd in an FA Cup semi-final.
Would he not like to see fellow Corkman Roy Keane play at Croke Park?
"Roy's a good player, though he's getting on a bit now . . . I'd much prefer to see him play at Turners Cross though!," said Sonny.
Sonny was with his son, Fergus (51) who differs from his father on the Croke Park issue.
"You must have a proper stage for big occasions, and I'd sooner see a soccer international or a rugby international played there than some pop concert with U2."
Glen Rovers PRO Michael O'Sullivan was opposed to opening up Croke Park.
"You look at the FAI and the millions they've got over the years, and they've nothing to show for it, and we're being asked to bail them out now because they've no ground."
Fellow clubman Willie O'Callaghan was delighted with Saturday's vote, but he was less than happy with the decision by Cork County Board not to allow a vote on the matter at last week's board meeting.
"What annoys me about it is that we were led to believe that every club in the country would have a say in this - we had a good honest debate and we voted for change, and yet our views and those of all the other Cork clubs counted for nothing."
Gerry O'Toole revealed that he and a few others in the Glen also follow the Munster rugby team, and thought it was wrong that Irish rugby supporters would have to go to England to support the Irish team when a superb stadium was lying unused in Dublin.
