QuoteLimerick city councillors have called on the GAA to open up the Gaelic Grounds while Thomond Park undergoes a 40 million euros facelift. Councillor John Gilligan (Ind) said it would be a dreadful indictment of all the people of Ireland if Munster and Leinster secured home fixtures in the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup and their matches had to be played abroad.
"They are good problems for rugby to have, but preferably for Munster's matches, they should be able to stay within Munster," Gilligan said. Fellow councillor Pat Kennedy (Ind) agreed with Mr. Gilligan's comments. "Every effort should be made to make sure there is an appropriate stadium here."
Mr. Kennedy said the Mayor of Limerick "should endeavour to make sure the Gaelic Grounds on the Ennis Road is made available on a special occasion. Rugby is a very universal sport and if other organisations don't acknowledge this, in the future, they could find themselves on the wrong side," he declared.
What a tosser! Obviously it would be preferable to see Leinster & Munster play their games at home (if they even get a home QF). But how is this the responsibility of the GAA!?
Surely any criticism should be aimed at the IRFU for their failure to have any contingency plans available for provincial rugby while Landsdowne and Thomond Park are closed.
But no, some people just expect that if they shout long and loud enough, those gombeens in the GAA will eventually give in.
And what's that threat about in the last line!? If the GAA don't open their ground "they could find themselves on the wrong side".
Ignorant fool who has no grasp on the reality of the situation. Neither Limerick Co Board, nor the Munster Council has the right to make any of their grounds available to rugby even if they wanted to. Fools like this guy should actually try looking into the facts before opening their gobs.