OMAGH'S REQUEST REJECTED BY GAA
Omagh's request rejected by GAA
By Seamus McKinney and Liz Trainor
THE GAA has finally rejected a request by Omagh Town football club to use its Healy Park ground for a soccer match to raise money for the town's bomb relief fund.
But the gaelic sports body is expected to raise over �1m for the victims of the Omagh bomb from events organised by clubs throughout Ireland.
Last night, GAA spokesman Danny Lynch said the use of the Omagh GAA ground for a soccer match would require a change in the association's rules which could only be brought about through its congress.
He also ruled out the possibility that a special congress, to take place next month, could be used to change the rules to allow the soccer game.
Expressing disappointment at the GAA's decision, manager of Omagh Town Roy McCreadie said the club had tried to maximise the financial benefit of the charity soccer match by asking to hold the match at the GAA ground, which is larger than its own.
"It is a sorry state of affairs under the tragic circumstances, but we will still go ahead with the game at St Julian's Road," he said.
In August, Omagh Town revealed that top clubs Liverpool, Manchester United, Rangers and Celtic had all expressed an interest in playing a local soccer select game to raise money for the bomb relief fund.
Mr McCreadie said it was only right the game - to be played early in the new year - should be staged in Omagh.
Had the game been permitted at Healy Park, which has a capacity in excess of 20,000, thousands of pounds more money could have been raised for the fund.
While the GAA has allowed Croke Park to be used for rock concerts, American football and a hybrid game combining GAA and Australian rules football, the body has traditionally opposed the use of its grounds for soccer.
Mr Lynch said the GAA was bound by its own constitution and rules which forbade the use of grounds for soccer games.
He said no change could be made to the GAA's rules until the organisation's annual congress next April.
Mr Lynch said a special congress to discuss changes to the All-Ireland hurling championship - to take place next month - could not be used to change the rules to facilitate the soccer club.
Claiming next month's congress in Wexford was not a full annual meeting, he said: "It would have to be an alternative motion through a club and county board."
The GAA spokesman said that even if next month's congress could deal with the soccer issue, there was not sufficient time to accept a motion from a club and county board.
When asked if the GAA could not "bend" its rules to deal with a situation as tragic as the Omagh bombing, Mr Lynch said: "Rather than trying to create controversy on the back of Omagh, the GAA will raise more than any other sporting organisation for the victims of Omagh."
Plans are under way for a major all-star charity challenge match involving top GAA personalities, to take place in the town in the coming weeks.
The association has already donated the proceeds from the recent All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Clare and Offaly to the bomb fund.
It is understood that a six figure sum was collected from the match, which was played exactly two weeks after the Real IRA's attack in Omagh.
And a major fund-raising initiative, involving the 2,000 GAA clubs across Ireland, is expected to push the total over the �1m mark.
The association is remaining tight-lipped about the amount of money it could raise, but a fundraiser by all 2,000 clubs two years ago gathered over �1.3 for a prominent Co Laois GAA family who lost several members in a house fire.
Danny Lynch said that the Omagh tragedy had struck a chord with its members.
"Some of the dead and injured were involved with the GAA, so members of the association will be keen to help," he said.
Details of the association's sporting initiative to raise funds for the bereaved will be revealed in the coming weeks.
It is expected that the association will hand over at least �1m to the Omagh bomb fund by Christmas.
By Seamus McKinney and Liz Trainor
THE GAA has finally rejected a request by Omagh Town football club to use its Healy Park ground for a soccer match to raise money for the town's bomb relief fund.
But the gaelic sports body is expected to raise over �1m for the victims of the Omagh bomb from events organised by clubs throughout Ireland.
Last night, GAA spokesman Danny Lynch said the use of the Omagh GAA ground for a soccer match would require a change in the association's rules which could only be brought about through its congress.
He also ruled out the possibility that a special congress, to take place next month, could be used to change the rules to allow the soccer game.
Expressing disappointment at the GAA's decision, manager of Omagh Town Roy McCreadie said the club had tried to maximise the financial benefit of the charity soccer match by asking to hold the match at the GAA ground, which is larger than its own.
"It is a sorry state of affairs under the tragic circumstances, but we will still go ahead with the game at St Julian's Road," he said.
In August, Omagh Town revealed that top clubs Liverpool, Manchester United, Rangers and Celtic had all expressed an interest in playing a local soccer select game to raise money for the bomb relief fund.
Mr McCreadie said it was only right the game - to be played early in the new year - should be staged in Omagh.
Had the game been permitted at Healy Park, which has a capacity in excess of 20,000, thousands of pounds more money could have been raised for the fund.
While the GAA has allowed Croke Park to be used for rock concerts, American football and a hybrid game combining GAA and Australian rules football, the body has traditionally opposed the use of its grounds for soccer.
Mr Lynch said the GAA was bound by its own constitution and rules which forbade the use of grounds for soccer games.
He said no change could be made to the GAA's rules until the organisation's annual congress next April.
Mr Lynch said a special congress to discuss changes to the All-Ireland hurling championship - to take place next month - could not be used to change the rules to facilitate the soccer club.
Claiming next month's congress in Wexford was not a full annual meeting, he said: "It would have to be an alternative motion through a club and county board."
The GAA spokesman said that even if next month's congress could deal with the soccer issue, there was not sufficient time to accept a motion from a club and county board.
When asked if the GAA could not "bend" its rules to deal with a situation as tragic as the Omagh bombing, Mr Lynch said: "Rather than trying to create controversy on the back of Omagh, the GAA will raise more than any other sporting organisation for the victims of Omagh."
Plans are under way for a major all-star charity challenge match involving top GAA personalities, to take place in the town in the coming weeks.
The association has already donated the proceeds from the recent All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Clare and Offaly to the bomb fund.
It is understood that a six figure sum was collected from the match, which was played exactly two weeks after the Real IRA's attack in Omagh.
And a major fund-raising initiative, involving the 2,000 GAA clubs across Ireland, is expected to push the total over the �1m mark.
The association is remaining tight-lipped about the amount of money it could raise, but a fundraiser by all 2,000 clubs two years ago gathered over �1.3 for a prominent Co Laois GAA family who lost several members in a house fire.
Danny Lynch said that the Omagh tragedy had struck a chord with its members.
"Some of the dead and injured were involved with the GAA, so members of the association will be keen to help," he said.
Details of the association's sporting initiative to raise funds for the bereaved will be revealed in the coming weeks.
It is expected that the association will hand over at least �1m to the Omagh bomb fund by Christmas.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0230
Published Date: 16-Sep-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.