JOHN NEWMAN,
Madam, - Now that our Euro 2008 bid is over and done with, it's time to stand back and see how the dust has settled and where we go from here. None of the main "players" in our sporting world have done well and it now looks something like this:
1. We are no nearer to having a national stadium. The "Bertie Bowl", in all its variations, is just a pipe dream.
2. The FAI is back to square one as regards a stadium. It doesn't seem to even have plans for one.
3. The IRFU is stuck with a worn-out Lansdowne Road, doubling as the home venue for soccer internationals.
4. The GAA is struggling to complete a magnificent, state-of-the-art showpiece, which in reality, it doesn't actually need, probably cannot afford, and doesn't know what to do with for half the year.
So there are no winners: all have lost. But it does not have to be so. A situation could easily be created where all the parties mentioned - as well as Irish sports fans and taxpayers - would emerge winning all the way. Quite simply, the solution appears to be for the State to purchase Croke Park from the GAA and operate it as a truly national stadium, at the disposal of the three sports bodies mentioned and indeed any others who can justify the need.
It would retain its identity as Croke Park, but it would now become economically viable, because of an increase in activity, of the order of probably at least 250 per cent. This would, of course, cause problems locally, but these could be solved by a major redevelopment plan - replacing many of the one and two-storey houses by more intensive high-rise development, with fair and adequate compensation for those displaced.
The GAA needs the use of a stadium such as Croke Park - but it does not need to own one. It would be the anchor tenant, its traditional dates should not be affected and it would be relieved of a potential albatross round its neck. It needs investment at club level- not at the top. On the other hand, international sports such as rugby and soccer must be catered for with facilities that compare favourably with accepted international standards.
In addition, and most importantly, Irish society needs to prove its acceptance of the principle of inclusiveness and forget about "Rule 21" and concepts such as "foreign games" - a foreign game is almost an oxymoron. How about it, Bertie? - Yours, etc.,
JOHN NEWMAN,
Dublin 11.