GAA President Jarlath Burns says the Association would be “very supportive” of Pairc Ui Chaoimh replacing Casement Park as a Euro 2028 venue.
With the Belfast venue now out of the picture, due to a lack of funding from the British government to redevelop it in time, alternative venues on the island could be proposed.
Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh, redeveloped and reopened in 2017, and with a capacity of around 45,000, is an obvious contender from the GAA’s perspective.
Burns said it will ultimately come down to UEFA, who may wish to simply distribute more games to venues already on the rota, but he said the GAA would happily provide Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
“Obviously we in the GAA would be very supportive of that,” said Burns.
“I have to give credit to the Tanaiste Micheal Martin and the Minister for Sport because I only mentioned it to Micheal Martin three days ago.
“It had been suggested to me by Kevin O’Donovan from Cork two months ago, just to plant the seed. We know that Pairc Ui Chaoimh is open for all business and we would recommend as many games as possible to be in it.
“It’s great how quickly they’ve come out of the blocks but at the end of the day, that’s a decision that will be made by UEFA. But if we were asked to nominate a stadium for the games that were to be in Casement Park, that they would definitely be in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, Corcaigh.”
On the possibility that UEFA may apportion games initially designated to Casement Park games to other grounds in the UK, Burns shrugged.
“I can’t speak for UEFA, that’s up to them, but the fact that the Tanaiste and the Minister for Sport came out very quickly in favour of it yesterday is very positive news for us,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s a decision for UEFA to make but we know exactly where we stand on that.”
Burns was speaking at Wednesday morning’s Hurling Development Committee media briefing in Croke Park, where it was confirmed that a new National Head of Hurling will be appointed.
The Head of Hurling will have “responsibility for the overall strategic development of the game of hurling, with particular emphasis on designated counties”.
The influential committee, which includes Kilkenny great Brian Cody, is chaired by Antrim’s Terry Reilly.
Responding to a query on whether the new hurling chief would have the required “teeth” to put pressure on individual counties who aren’t pushing or developing hurling, Reilly nodded.
“I would have thought that the conditions are primed now for the person in this role to have teeth like never before,” said Reilly. “Because you have a President who is fully behind what we’re doing.
“You have a member of management chairing it who is very focused, and we have a committee that’s keen, eager, willing and able to assist this person to bring the best possible programme we have ever.”
Burns said it is not simply a question of throwing more money at hurling.
“It requires money at a particular stage,” said Burns. “Before that, it requires structure and strategy and will and people who are willing to actually volunteer to get these hurling clubs up and running.
“That is a challenge, there’s no doubt, and it’s a long-term challenge, but my ideal would be that there would be money that could be applied for whenever the club is up and running.”
