Ireland may co-host 2015 World Cup

[Tankie]

And don't tell me it's promoting soccer and rugby. That's only true if these games wouldn't take place anyway.

If Croke Park wasn't part of the package then they might not occur on these shores. We all know the sky won't fall in but there is a battle going on for the next generation of players and bringing a WC to these shores won't help the GAA's fight.

If this is to go ahead I really doubt that Croke Park will be part of the plan as the decision on who hosts the games will be made nect year i think and there is noway the GAA will have made it their minds by that stage. Also I am unsure if the IRFU would want to use Croker as they would want Ireland to play in LR and the venue is too big to hold another game.

With that in mind i don't think the games will be won or lost due to the availability of Croke Park but it will just mean that the GAA will get nothing out of these games that will be played in the country regardless.

[magpie seanie]

Hardt/Rufus - I wasn't saying there was no benefit but I was refuting an earlier point about spending the money on coaches/promotion etc. I think Rufus has proven my point.

As you know I was staunch in my "no" views and while I still would have preferred it was not opened now that it has we must get as mcuh money as possible out of the arrangement and use it to the assosiations long term benefit. That I think is being done and as suspected at the time it will continue for many years to come (due to funding issues with Lansdowne).

I suppose part of me is pragmatic but as Hardy mentioned before the Ronnie Whelans of this world reinforce the part of me that feels it never should be opened to soccer especially.

[Hound]

A good way to introduce a bit of realism to the debate, Rufus. It continues to flabbergast me that there are people who want to switch off this source of revenue for good and would rather that this sort of funding for the development of our sport and our community service work be reduced than see (some) other sports being played at Croke Park. And that's after our sporting virginity has been lost anyway, after we've been doing it for two years and not only has the sky not fallen in, but we've an extra 10 million-odd to spend on development, simply by putting to use an asset that otherwise would be doing nothing but providing roosting for crows. I have a very simple question:

WHY?

And don't tell me it's promoting soccer and rugby. That's only true if these games wouldn't take place anyway. And don't tell me it provides more revenue for rugby and soccer because I just can't get my head around a mentality that says we should forgo €1.25 million per event and get nothing, just to ensure our competitors get less than they would get when we get 1.25 million.

Surely a blind man can see that, rather than promoting soccer and rugby it's USING soccer and rugby to generate development funds for the GAA.  A perfectly satisfactory arrangement in which I can see nothing but good.

Well said.

[Main Street]

The launch of Antrim's new Centre of Excellence is proof that opening up Croke Park to other sports can benefit the GAA at grassroots level.
The project is the first of its kind to be funded by the GAA's Strategic Investment Fund, which Brennan revealed was made possible by revenues from Croke Park, including soccer and rugby union internationals, as well as Gaelic Games from all codes and levels.

While acknowledging that the decision had been 'a sensitive matter', he believes that funds generated will keep the association's future in good health.

"This project will ensure that there is a long lasting legacy from the rental income at Croke Park, which I believe will see the association thrive in large and growing urban areas," said Brennan.

The centre - which is expected to cost in the region of £8 million - will also provide a new home to the St Comgall's club in Antrim. The club are currently without a pitch of their own and members were also present at yesterday's launch.

More than a bit ironic considering that Antrim GAA voted against the opening of Croke Park.
Where are those so called principles now?

It will be generally accepted that renting out facilities to other sports is not in fact promoting other sports and doesn't conflict with the GAA's job of promoting Gaelic games.

[Zulu]

If the Rugby World Cup is to be Co-hosted in Ireland it will make f**k all difference in terms of promotion if the Games are held in Croker, LR,thomond park,or the RDS

I agree, I just don't think the GAA should allow CP be part of the SRU/IRFU bid as it would be a great promotional tool for our competitors. If they can get it on their own backs then good luck to them.

Those who are arguing to keep CP open seem to be debating a seperate issue, I'm involved in underage coaching and I see how hard it can be to keep kids playing GAA if their county team isn't doing well. Look at Limerick for example, the GAA is very much on the back foot there and a rugby WC wouldn't help the cause in any way. I don't care whether the rugby WC is played here or not but I don't think the GAA should be part of that bid. If it continues to allow soccer qualifiers and 6 nations games in CP that's one thing but being actually part of the bid to bring it here is something entirely different.

If this is to go ahead I really doubt that Croke Park will be part of the plan as the decision on who hosts the games will be made nect year i think and there is noway the GAA will have made it their minds by that stage. Also I am unsure if the IRFU would want to use Croker as they would want Ireland to play in LR and the venue is too big to hold another game.

With that in mind i don't think the games will be won or lost due to the availability of Croke Park but it will just mean that the GAA will get nothing out of these games that will be played in the country regardless.

That's not what you said or at least implied before and if what you say now is true then this discussion is pointless.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Hardt/Rufus - I wasn't saying there was no benefit but I was refuting an earlier point about spending the money on coaches/promotion etc. I think Rufus has proven my point.

As you know I was staunch in my "no" views and while I still would have preferred it was not opened now that it has we must get as mcuh money as possible out of the arrangement and use it to the assosiations long term benefit. That I think is being done and as suspected at the time it will continue for many years to come (due to funding issues with Lansdowne).

I suppose part of me is pragmatic but as Hardy mentioned before the Ronnie Whelans of this world reinforce the part of me that feels it never should be opened to soccer especially.

The details of Croke Park monies being invested in the two examples I provided, prove your point to an extent only Seanie, i.e. the money generated is indeed invested in capital expenditure, as you said.

However it seems obvious to me that if these funds are sent to projects like that of Antrim, then it follows that (existing) funds elsewhere are going to be freed up for other budgets, including our youth / coaching development and publicity of our games. Extra money is valuable money no matter what GAA budget it is directed to. That was always the basis for my support of opening up Croke Park.

Incidentally Seanie - in a rare moment of mutual understanding between you and I, I would have sympathy for the way in which Ronnie Whelan's words would rile you. I assume that there remains an element in the South who have nothing but antipathy towards the GAA. Given the standard of the 'entertainment' that they are providing at Croker would leave a lot to be desired, I would rest easy that there won't be too many kids being won over to soccer on that basis!

[magpie seanie]

I assume that there remains an element in the South who have nothing but antipathy towards the GAA.

Coming from 6 miles outside the garrison town of Sligo I've grown up with it and lived with it all my life. So that explains part of my make up I suppose. Almost exclusively soccer people. I've never experienced it from rugby folk (from the 26 anyway).

It is great to see the money being used so well and in a way that will have lasting benefits for years to come. As some said back during the debate it is more likely that the GAA will use their money better than our competitors. That will probably prove to be the case. I wasn't in favour and still find it a bit unpalatable with the soccer especially but the cash benefit numbs the pain a bit. I think Hardy is right though - we might need to up the rent seeing as things are dragging on a bit longer than first anticipated.