It was 15 years ago today that then GAA President Sean Kelly expressed his elation and great relief that ‘Rule 42’ had been amended. The change was passed at the GAA’s 2005 Annual Congress, paving the way for soccer and rugby to be played at Croke Park while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped. Kelly had been central to the campaign to amend the rule which prohibited field games, “other than those sanctioned by Central Council”, on GAA pitches. GAA Central Council was now authorised to rent or lease Croke Park in certain circumstances for events other than those controlled by the association while Lansdowne Road was closed. I felt that would be very bad for the GAA and everyone else.”In Jim O’Sullivan’s report for the Irish Examiner, Kelly dismissed the idea that opening Croke Park would cost the GAA.

Source: Irish Examiner April 15, 2020 22:52 UTC