Madam, - Joe Layden (March 14th) seems to think that if the GAA opens up Croke Park we will all live in a happy-clappy, huggy-huggy wonderland of sporting co-operation. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is the GAA is actually in competition with these other sports.
I live in Kerry and I have seen the advances and inroads that soccer and rugby have made here in the Kingdom. They are definitely making it more difficult for GAA clubs to organise at under-age level. Last season, in my own club, we played 13-a-side in under-14 games because some young lads had "retired" from GAA to concentrate on soccer. It can also be difficult organising training sessions and matches due to kids' commitment to soccer. I am sure other clubs throughout the country are experiencing similar difficulties.
Good luck to these sports for organising themselves so well, but is it incumbent on the GAA to provide them with facilities to make more money to promote their games? Jack Boothman succinctly described opening Croke Park as akin to Tesco allowing St Bernard products to be put on their shelves while the local Dunnes Stores was being renovated.
Contrary to what Mr Layden says, Irish fans don't have to travel to the England to watch "home" matches. These matches could easily be played in Windsor Park, Belfast - no more than a two-hour drive from Dublin. Surely a bit of sporting co-operation between two associations involved in the same sport might lead to "a defining moment in terms of maturity, confidence and inclusiveness".
The only reason these games will be played in England is to make money, with little regard for the fans. Concern for the fans wasn't very high of the FAI agenda when it sold TV rights to Sky. In fact one of its spokesmen (Brendan Menton, I think) said at the time the FAI needed the money to promote soccer throughout the country.
I firmly believe most GAA members are against opening Croke Park but are afraid to say so for fear of being labelled "backward bogmen". I personally have no interest in looking back and am not concerned about saving the "sacred sod". But I am concerned about the future of our games.
Providing facilities for other sports to make money and promote themselves is just too ludicrous for words. - Yours, etc.,
TOM HOGAN, Castlegregory, Co Kerry.