Duffy plays down Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Casement Park fears

April 16, 2015

Paraic Duffy, Director General, GAA.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

GAA Director General Paraic Duffy is confident that the redevelopment of both Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Casement Park will soon be back on track.

Speaking to The Irish Independent, Duffy played down recent reports suggesting that the work to develop Pairc Ui Chaoimh into a state-of-the-art 45,000 capacity stadium will face significant delays.

"Pairc Ui Chaoimh will be fine. It's an issue between Cork and the Department, in terms of documentation, but I'm absolutely confident that will be resolved.

"I think the Department are looking for information, and the way Cork presented that isn't exactly the way they wanted. But I've no doubt it will be resolved."

He continued: "We've a few issues with Casement Park, as well, which means reapplying for planning permission.

"Pairc Ui Chaoimh shouldn't be severely affected. Casement has slowed down, but I'm confident it can go through, and I'm very committed to it.

"I expect both Casement and Pairc Ui Chaoimh to be completed, maybe a little later in terms in Casement, but long before the Rugby World Cup."

Duffy, meanwhile, doesn't envisage that the naming rights to Croke Park will be sold during his tenure.

"There's nothing against stadium rights.

"We have Kingspan Breffni Park etc. So we've accepted the principle of it. And if Cork come to us with a proposal (for Paric Ui Chaoimh), we'd certainly look at it. It would be up to them to come up with a proposal.

"We have never had any offers on Croke Park, nor have we sought it. It has never been discussed, really. That's for the GAA to decide. But I don't see it as likely. I can't talk for 50 or 100 years down the line.

"But in the near future I would say, no."


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