By the narrowest of margins, the GAA National Congress votes to continue to prohibit the use of Croke Park for non Gaelic games.
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) ban on the playing of soccer and rugby at Croke Park is to remain in place. A motion to permit such a move was defeated at the GAA annual congress held in The Burlington Hotel in Dublin.
When the vote to amend Rule 42 was counted, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority by the narrowest of margins.
176 in favour of allowing games such as soccer and rugby to be played at Croke Park, 89 against.
Tommy Kenoy from the Kilmore club in County Roscommon, who proposed the motion, calls for a recount.
There is sufficient margin for error, I think, to justify a recount.
President of the GAA Seán McCague insists the process was fair and there is no recount.
Tommy Kenoy is disappointed with the result, especially as the amendment to Rule 42 was supported in great numbers. Those voting to keep Rule 42 feared change would ultimately lead to all GAA grounds being open to non-Gaelic sports.
The campaign to open up Croke Park to non-Gaelic games may be decided in 2002 but for critics, it is a year too late. According to one delegate,
It's a year in which the GAA has once again shown its inability to drop its historical baggage.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 April 2001. The reporter is Michael O'Kane.
