11 December 1997 Edition
Sportsview: Coveting thy neighbour's stadium
By Ciaran Heaphey
Much has been made and said about the £20 million allocation to the GAA by Charlie McCreevy in the 26-County Budget. Fair enough, the derisory amount given to disability organisations is an absolute disgrace. And the welfare increases were a disgrace and in all other fields it proved to a budget for the wealthy and advantaged in our society.
But here I'll deal only with the sporting side of things. The fact is that the money came from lottery funds, of which so much has to be spent on sport. It is no secret McCreevy is a GAA man through and through and makes no apologies for this, as he stated recently on Questions and Answers.
There has been some consternation among other sports over the allocation and the West Brits in Dublin 4 no doubt are not too pleased. Rugby should be played in the all-new revamped Croke Park; soccer as well, they say. Let's look at the facts.
The GAA applied some time ago for state funding and grants for their project to make Croke Park a £141 million state-of-the-art all-seater stadium for the new millennium. The GAA is a highly-organised sporting body organised in virtually every parish and community throughout the 32 Counties. Its games are unique to this island. Its popularity unparalled by other sports in Ireland. Its role has inspired a sense of pride in the culture and games of Ireland. It deserves £20 million for the rebuiding of Croke Park.
And what about other sports using this facility when it is finished? Again let's look at the facts: The FAI has just come out of the international team's most successful period ever. The amount of money squandered on God knows what is criminal. We've had Euro `88, Italia `90 and USA `94. They've had sponsorship, TV rights, gate receipts, kit sales and promotions. Why no national soccer stadium? Why try to hang on to the coat tails of the GAA, who have shown they can get their act together? Why no application for grants for assistance like the GAA did? Rugby, the same. What's wrong with Lansdowne Road anyway? I wouldn't fancy the Hoo Ra Henrys of Dublin 4 gracing the green fields of Croke Park anyway.
No, I think the message should be sent out loud and clear from the GAA that Croke Park will be a fine national stadium in which to parade our Gaelic games, and Gaelic games only.
Club championship roundup
Erin's Isle of Dublin clinched the Leinster Football Championship at Navan on Sunday with a powerful display over Kildare's Clane. The Dubs' full back and full forward lines and their ability to deal with the elements proved too much for the Kildare team. Corofin of Galway went through to the Connacht Final after beating Allen Gaels. In hurling Clarecastle of Clare got the better of Limerick's Patrickswell in Thurles by a 2-11 to 0-15 margin.
Cork football, going through a bit of a bad patch recently, got a bit of a boost after County Champions Castlehaven defeated the Laune Rangers of the Kingdom in the Munster Football semi-final.
Much has been made and said about the £20 million allocation to the GAA by Charlie McCreevy in the 26-County Budget. Fair enough, the derisory amount given to disability organisations is an absolute disgrace. And the welfare increases were a disgrace and in all other fields it proved to a budget for the wealthy and advantaged in our society.
But here I'll deal only with the sporting side of things. The fact is that the money came from lottery funds, of which so much has to be spent on sport. It is no secret McCreevy is a GAA man through and through and makes no apologies for this, as he stated recently on Questions and Answers.
There has been some consternation among other sports over the allocation and the West Brits in Dublin 4 no doubt are not too pleased. Rugby should be played in the all-new revamped Croke Park; soccer as well, they say. Let's look at the facts.
The GAA applied some time ago for state funding and grants for their project to make Croke Park a £141 million state-of-the-art all-seater stadium for the new millennium. The GAA is a highly-organised sporting body organised in virtually every parish and community throughout the 32 Counties. Its games are unique to this island. Its popularity unparalled by other sports in Ireland. Its role has inspired a sense of pride in the culture and games of Ireland. It deserves £20 million for the rebuiding of Croke Park.
And what about other sports using this facility when it is finished? Again let's look at the facts: The FAI has just come out of the international team's most successful period ever. The amount of money squandered on God knows what is criminal. We've had Euro `88, Italia `90 and USA `94. They've had sponsorship, TV rights, gate receipts, kit sales and promotions. Why no national soccer stadium? Why try to hang on to the coat tails of the GAA, who have shown they can get their act together? Why no application for grants for assistance like the GAA did? Rugby, the same. What's wrong with Lansdowne Road anyway? I wouldn't fancy the Hoo Ra Henrys of Dublin 4 gracing the green fields of Croke Park anyway.
No, I think the message should be sent out loud and clear from the GAA that Croke Park will be a fine national stadium in which to parade our Gaelic games, and Gaelic games only.
Club championship roundup
Erin's Isle of Dublin clinched the Leinster Football Championship at Navan on Sunday with a powerful display over Kildare's Clane. The Dubs' full back and full forward lines and their ability to deal with the elements proved too much for the Kildare team. Corofin of Galway went through to the Connacht Final after beating Allen Gaels. In hurling Clarecastle of Clare got the better of Limerick's Patrickswell in Thurles by a 2-11 to 0-15 margin.
Cork football, going through a bit of a bad patch recently, got a bit of a boost after County Champions Castlehaven defeated the Laune Rangers of the Kingdom in the Munster Football semi-final.