Dublin NFL fixture likely to launch new floodlights

Croke Park's floodlight installation is proceeding and the official unveiling is on course to be on the first weekend in February and likely to feature the Dublin-Tyrone opening NFL fixture. A week later the historic first rugby international at the venue, between Ireland and France, will take place.

"There's a natural wish that the first event staged under the lights would be a GAA match," according to the association's Information Officer Feargal McGill, "but there's also the practical reason that the lights will need to be tested before the internationals take place.

"Even in Galway with the temporary floodlights (for the international rules first Test) Ireland played a practice match the week before just to test the lights."

The likelihood of Dublin-Tyrone being the chosen fixture has to do with the need for a big fixture that will draw a crowd. The counties opened last season's league campaign with a notorious match in Omagh, featuring widespread disorder and indiscipline so there will be a definite edge to the clash.

Dublin last played a regulation NFL fixture at Croke Park in February 2003 when reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh came to Dublin for a match that created a record, over 50,000, for a first-phase league match.

Details of the fixtures will be confirmed at the end of the month when the GAA's Management Committee meets to ratify the National Leagues' fixture schedules.

Next season's championship schedules are also being finalised at present with the provincial councils presenting their draft fixtures list. They should be available for release by next week.

Meanwhile, the GAA have confirmed that a request from the Republic of Ireland soccer team to train at Croke Park this month in advance of next year's internationals at the venue was declined.

According to one source the issue was straightforward. "The proposal accepted by the association was for 2007 and while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped. Given the sensitivities of the situation it would have created difficulties for us to depart from the terms of the motion passed at congress."

Meanwhile, the GAA Museum has announced that guided tours will take place in Croke Park this weekend, Sunday 19th November, to commemorate the events of Bloody Sunday, November 21st, 1920.

Staff at the museum will help visitors recreate that day, the most infamous in the association's history.

The event will also include a wreath laying ceremony to remember all those who died in Croke Park on that day 86 years ago.

Booking is advised. Tel: (01) 819 2323, e-mail: gaamuseum@crokepark.ie or go to the website www.gaa.ie/museum.

Tickets are €7 for adults and €5 for children.