Sense appears to have prevailed.
It didn’t matter if you were a football fan, a GAA fan or a rugby fan because over the last few days those of all sporting interests the length and breadth of this country were united in the quest for fairness and what is right.
From Cork to every other county in Ireland, they lobbied and they campaigned for the GAA to overturn their initial decision to deny the fundraising game in memory of Liam Miller access to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. In the end, fairness has won out as reports from Cork’s leading local paper the Evening Echo claim that the game has now been finalised for the recently renovated GAA grounds.
The Liam Miller fundraiser will now take place in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Well done to all for making it happen.
— John McHale (@echosportsed) July 21, 2018
The reason there was such a groundswell of support for the game to be held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, rather than Turner’s Cross is due to the GAA grounds having the potential to hold almost 40’000 more spectators.
Seeing as it is a fundraiser, that would obviously be of benefit to the honest cause of the Miller family.
The GAA had previously claimed that they had to abide by the rules and that those rules could only come under examination, debate and votes at Congress. The next GAA congress won’t take place until February.
Rule 5.1 of the GAA guide states that all GAA property shall ‘be used only for the purpose of or in connection with the playing of the games controlled by the Association’, with the exception of Croke Park.
Former Derry footballer and barrister by profession Joe Brolly had tweeted on Friday night that the GAA could easily turn a blind eye to these rules.
Rule 5.1 (a) allows GAA pitches to be used for "purposes not in conflict with the aims and objects of the association.." So, the Liam Miller game could easily be sanctioned. In any event, the penalty for a breach is discretionary R5.1(b) so a blind eye should be turned.
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) July 20, 2018
However, RTÉ journalist Stephen Murphy has claimed that these revelations are as of yet unconfirmed, and that negotiations are still in place.
Reports this evening that a @PaircUiCha0imh deal has been done have been dismissed by a well-placed source as premature – they're not aware of any deal. Also dismissed by source close to organisers – "adamant" no deal struck.
Expect clarification early in the week#LiamMiller— Stephen Murphy (@SMurphyTV) July 21, 2018
Updates to follow…
