February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Several counties had resubmitted motions to the Motions Committee, which had effectively scuppered any prospect of a meaningful debate last year, and in the end seven motions on Rule 42 from Roscommon, Sligo, Wicklow, Cavan, Longford, Kerry and Clare were deemed suitable for Congress, which will be held at Croke Park itself.
Significantly, the motions from Roscommon and Sligo call for the temporary lifting of Rule 42 during the forthcoming redevelopment work at Lansdowne Road. With the rugby ground, which also hosts Ireland’s soccer internationals, set for a major overhaul in 2007 and ’08 that will see it transformed into a 60,000 all-seat stadium, major rugby and soccer matches will have to be played in England or Wales.
However, if there was a temporary repeal of Rule 42, Croke Park could stage the games and generate revenue for the GAA while keeping all the other income surrounding a major international sporting event in Ireland.
“I think it would be a great pity to see international matches going over seas while Lansdowne Road is closed,” said Tommy Kenoy, who was behind the Roscommon motion. “I’m delighted that so many motions got through even if there was a lot of obstruction put in the way.”
With a debate at least now guaranteed, it appears certain that for any of the motions to be passed a two-thirds majority will be needed. The GAA president, Sean Kelly, who is in favor of opening up Croke Park, denied that his credibility would have been compromised if the motions had been ruled out of order.
“There will be room for a full and frank debate so people can express their views,” Kelly said. “It wasn’t my credibility at stake here, it was the credibility of the democratic process of the organization.”