A chara, - The largesse of the Government in using taxpayers' money to bail out Dublin stadiums is quite breathtaking. It further confirms the dubious use of sport (or rather some sports) for populist patronage, when the broader audit of sports facilities is far from realisation.
As an exercise in sheer illogicality both cases are a prime study. The FAI, unable to fund its Eircom Park plan, was given the use of Stadium Ireland - and will be paid over £100 million to play in it. The GAA, again out of lolly for Croker, is offered a further £60 million (that's £80 million total), but the deal requires that it actually plays some of its big games somewhere else. At the other end of the sporting spectrum, many of the poor relations of Irish sport do not even enjoy recognition of their very existence on the official listing of sports, which seems to have frozen forever in the mid-1990s.
The Dublin ice-hockey team has to travel to Belfast to train and play; the State-owned Real Tennis court at Earlsfort Terrace remains closed for play. Power-lifting, taekwondo and other martial arts with countless participants, as well as Rugby League, field teams representing Ireland, but do so without recognition or funding - not one penny in all the millions.
It can only be hoped that Government, with the advice of the Sports Council, will give a better break to those unable to exercise the leverage that has been granted to the big boys' club. - Is mise,
Ted Neville, Carrigaline Road, Douglas, Co Cork.