GAA stadium Croke Park is not available to soccer and rugby

A motion calling on the GAA to lease Croke Park to the Irish Government for a limited number of occasions during the year was passed at the Wicklow county convention on Sunday.

The proposal will now go to the GAA's annual congress in April.

The motion from the Arklow Gerladines club said the stadium should be rented to the government for five events per year, with the government then being able to sub-let the stadium to the FAI or IRFU.

Arklow Geraldines officials said their motion would be a means of opening Croke Park to other sports without having to delete the controversial Rule 42.

The arrangement would envisage the Irish Government making funds available which would help the completion of the Croke Park redevelopment.

Arklow Geraldines say the arrangement would be reviewed after five years.

Despite the large volume of support, there was some opposition at the Wicklow gathering.

"We are being asked to wake up some morning and see the England soccer team playing in Croke Park. Just 80 years ago the English came to Croke Park and shot Gaelic players," said one delegate.

With the organisation currently in debt because of the Croke Park development, many in the GAA feel that the association has been squandering a huge opportunity to make some badly-needed cash.

There has been speculation that the GAA might be asked to host World Cup soccer qualifiers next autumn.

FAI sources have hinted that Republic of Ireland games might have to be staged in Britain because of scheduled redevelopment work at Lansdowne Road with Celtic Park in Glasgow and Anfield mooted as possible venues.

In addition to the Arklow Geraldines motion, a number of other clubs will submit proposals to county conventions in the coming weeks calling for the deletion of Rule 42.