The GAA is continuing to make clear its unhappiness at the Government's refusal to allow Gaelic games to be played in the proposed sports stadium in Tallaght.
Speaking at yesterday's presentation of the AIB Provincial Player Awards in the IFSC, GAA president Nickey Brennan reiterated the association's disappointment at its exclusion from two major publicly-funded infrastructural projects and that it would make its feelings clear in dealings with the Government.
"Lansdowne Road was initially supposed to be big enough to accommodate Gaelic games and planning permission was originally given in Tallaght for Gaelic games to be included. But in both cases the grounds are not big enough although there's some suggestion Tallaght may be used for juvenile games but that doesn't address our concerns."
Despite a vote of South Dublin County Council that the facility should be multi-sport, the Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue has vigorously stuck to his decision not to fund the stadium if it is to incur the additional cost of being built sufficiently large to host football and hurling as well as soccer, for which it is earmarked as a home venue for Eircom League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers.
In the light of the successful staging of rugby internationals at Croke Park and the imminence of soccer at the same venue, the GAA is unhappy at the lack of quid pro quo and a statement from the recent Central Council meeting made that clear.
"I don't want to overstate this because there are legal proceedings still going on," said Brennan in reference to the case being taken by Dublin GAA clubs against the planning permission granted to Tallaght (although this is based on planning technicality and won't address the substantive issue) and on which the High Court is expected to rule next Friday week. "We're not going to get directly involved but we have our own agenda and our discussions with the Government are ongoing but what we have to say on the matter we'll say behind closed doors."
Brennan also confirmed the Loughrea-Ballyhale club final would be the first hurling match to be played under floodlights at Croke Park. The lights will be turned on at half-time even though natural daylight won't end until late in the match. This, according to Brennan, is to prevent the players being distracted as the lights come on.
Two coaching and games development awards were presented by Brennan, to Paul Kinsella (Kilkenny) and Séamus McGrattan (Portaferry) for their work in coaching and developing hurling in their counties. Kinsella is vice-chair of the Kilkenny County Board and a front-runner to succeed Ned Quinn later this year whereas McGrattan was involved in the setting up of the Ulster coaching committee 20 years ago.
AIB PROVINCIAL PLAYER AWARDS: Football:Oisín McConville (Crossmaglen), Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Mark O'Carroll (St Brigid's), and Ronan Sweeney (Moorefield). Hurling:Johnny O'Loughlin (Loughrea), James Fitzpatrick (Ballyhale Shamrocks), John O'Brien (Toomevara) and Karl McKeegan (Cushendall).
