All Ireland finals will be played on BRITISH soil. Happy now ?.

[orangeman]

The GAA are ripping up the pitch for the U2 concert and relaying it in time for the quarter finals. They're employing a contractor from the wee Black North and soil and grass specialists from Britain.



All-Ireland finals to be played on British soil as pitch torn up for U2


The scene at Croke Park as the final pieces of the pitch were ripped up by mechanical diggers after the Leinster final on Sunday


By Aidan O'Connor


Tuesday July 14 2009

THE All-Ireland football and hurling finals are to be played on British soil in Croke Park for the first time in the GAA's proud 125-year history.

The entire surface at Croke Park is being ripped up to facilitate U2's concerts next weekend but will be replaced by new sods sourced in England.

Croke Park is defending its decision to source all of the stadium's new sod from a specialist turf farm in Scunthorpe. But the stadium is coming under increasing pressure over its decision to depend almost exclusively on British companies to provide pitch advice, seed and turf.

A convoy of UK and Northern Ireland heavy machinery moved onto the pitch on Sunday to begin work on the €1.2m project.

The entire surface is being torn up and tonnes of sand are being spread across a bare surface to cater for the thousands of U2 fans expected to hit Croker next weekend.

A completely new surface will then be planted, farmed in the UK and jointly paid for by U2 and Croke Park.

Croke Park has hired Clive Richardson, a company based in Armagh, to do the contract work.

However, the stadium's decision to hire British consultants Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) to advise on the project has infuriated one Fianna Fail senator.

"I think this is symbolically a terrible signal for the GAA to be sending out. The GAA are our national sporting institution and Croke Park is our national stadium," said Senator Mark Daly.

"Given the history of the stadium and the pitch I think the GAA should be doing more to source sod from within Ireland rather than importing it. I'm not sure anyone involved in the GAA would be too comfortable with the notion of the All-Ireland finals being played on British soil," he added.

But Croke Park defended its decision last night and dismissed claims of matches being played on British spoil as "ill-informed".Opinion

Stadium Director Peter McKenna said: "We're not playing games on British soil. It's a strange way to look at it. We need to see the bigger picture. It's an ill-informed opinion."

Mr McKenna said that Ireland does not have the specialist turf farms or grass seed nurseries that can provide Croke Park with what it needs. Experts looked at three turf farms in the UK and one in Slovenia before it made its decision.

U2 have committed to paying 30pc of the €1.2m bill with Croke Park picking up the rest of the tab.

[full back]

Fcuk there are some yaps & scaremongers around

It has been clearly stated Ireland hasnt got the specialist requirements to do such a job
The same people would be crying about the state of the pitch if an Irish company was used & it was a balls up

[Gabriel_Hurl]

why is this an issue? 

[orangeman]

why is this an issue? 

No big deal but some senator is trying to make an issue of it :


However, the stadium's decision to hire British consultants Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) to advise on the project has infuriated one Fianna Fail senator.

"I think this is symbolically a terrible signal for the GAA to be sending out. The GAA are our national sporting institution and Croke Park is our national stadium," said Senator Mark Daly

[ziggysego]

Ah so what.

[RadioGAAGAA]

Erm...

Isn't it actually against the GAA rules to use materials of non Irish manufacture?

[pintsofguinness]

Who cares. 

I'm embarrassed this is even  newsworthy.

[armaghniac]

No doubt there will be "field" day for jokers when Antrim and Down play this year.

[Gnevin]

Fcuk there are some yaps & scaremongers around

It has been clearly stated Ireland hasnt got the specialist requirements to do such a job
The same people would be crying about the state of the pitch if an Irish company was used & it was a balls up

When was this projected ordered? According to the lad who did the pitch for the CL final this year or last year (some top guy in this field) Ireland could of provided the sod if notice was given but I agree storm in a teacup.

[ziggysego]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

Go f**k yourself. What kind of comment is that from a Gael?

[longrunsthefox]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

That is so original... not! At least people remember when they won an All Ireland, west brit boy.

[orangeman]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

That is so original... not! At least people remember when they won an All Ireland, west brit boy.

Bit like the Kerry lads asking when "the British national anthem" was going to be played before the AI final.

[magickingdom]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

That is so original... not! At least people remember when they won an All Ireland, west brit boy.

Bit like the Kerry lads asking when "the British national anthem" was going to be played before the AI final.

really orangeman? never heard that...

[orangeman]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

That is so original... not! At least people remember when they won an All Ireland, west brit boy.

Bit like the Kerry lads asking when "the British national anthem" was going to be played before the AI final.

really orangeman? never heard that...

So they say. Don't know whether to believe it or not.

[longrunsthefox]

i don't see the problem? sure nobody complained when United Kingdom Teams Tyrone, Derry, Down & Armagh won All Irelands on irish soil

That is so original... not! At least people remember when they won an All Ireland, west brit boy.

Bit like the Kerry lads asking when "the British national anthem" was going to be played before the AI final.

right enuff and check out the video of last years final with the Kerry keeper especially and other players stretching nad dancing about during the national anthem and their supporters cheering before it is over... while Tyrone players and fans give it due respect.  in 2003 a Kerry begrudger said to me about two british teams in  All Ireland, the only time the anthem was heard to the very end at the final.