Basic changes may make big difference

THE AUDIT of county grounds going before the GAA’s Management Committee next month may not necessitate extensive work in all of the venues threatened with reductions in capacity.

The Infrastructure and Safety committee chair Séamus McCloy commissioned the Slattery Report, which is intended to bring grounds into line with best standards and recommends substantial reductions in a number of grounds.

Peter McKenna is secretary of the committee and believes that basic improvements can make a big difference.

“I’m very conscious that we are still in process and the conclusion of this will be with the Coiste Bainistí, but in the main you’d say that it’s a timely look at standards across the country. Training of stewards – and the provision of one per 200 spectators – event management and safety statements are very easy to put in place by the start of the new season.

“Basic things can be addressed very quickly and if there is a need to look at ongoing remedial works, people need to be aware that any facility does require a certain amount of money to be put aside to keep it up to a certain standard.”

Asked why an internal survey by the GAA, rather than the intervention of local authorities, had highlighted necessary reductions in capacity in grounds such as Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Páirc Tailteann in Navan and St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, McKenna said: “It wouldn’t be part of their remit. There is a misinterpretation of what the various roles of the statutory authorities are.

“For example, the Fire Officer’s designated role is to set the safe exiting capacity of a facility. We would look at other things like the ingress so that one turnstile can take 650 per hour. Multiply the number of turnstiles and that gives you the entrance capacity.”

The main impact of the proposed reductions in capacity is expected to be at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which will be hoping for a big crowd should Cork and Kerry meet in the Munster football semi-final. But even if the capacity was reduced as reported from the current 43,000 to 30,000 the latter figure has hardly been exceeded in any Cork-Kerry match in Cork over the past decade.

l Kilkenny are likely to be without Henry Shefflin during next year’s league. A shoulder injury sustained in the county semi-final will require surgery, and may require up to six months’ recovery time.