Croke Park is not available to soccer and rugby

GAA president Sean Kelly has defended his stance on the issue of Croke Park being opened to other sports.

The Kerry has expressed his personal support for the idea of opening the Dublin GAA stadium to soccer and rugby and this provoked strong criticism from Cork GAA delegates at the county's convention over the weekend.

Kelly described the criticism as "democracy".

"The one thing I've asked clubs to do, as indeed have central council, is to discuss these matters and all related matters in relation to the GAA and to come up with motions if they so wish for Congress," Kelly told RTE.

"All I've done as Uachtaran (president) is, which is the same as I've done prior to being elected Uachtaran, is articulated my own view in relation to how I think the association should go.

"I can understand where people are coming from. It is a very emotional matter for many people".

At Sunday's Cork convention, Midleton delegate Sean Keohane said he was annoyed that the president was "issuing personal statements in relation to Croke Park being opened up".

"He should be espousing Association policy and nothing else," said the Midelton official.

If Frank Sinatra can play in Croke Park, then why not the Irish international rugby team? Clare GAA delegate Pat Daly

Bride Rovers delegate John Arnold went even further, claiming that he "he did not respect" the president because Kelly had not responded to a letter he had sent to Croke Park.

John Corcoran, from St Mary's in Ballineen claimed that the GAA president "did not deserve the respect of ordinary Gaels".

Also on Sunday, Clare GAA officials backed calls for Croke Park to be made available for soccer and rugby internationals.

The Munster county's annual convention on Sunday supported a number of motions calling for the removal of Rule 42 which precludes the playing of "foreign games" in GAA stadia.

Sligo county chairman Joe Queenan also outlined his support for calls to make the historic change in policy although in contrast, there were impassioned pleas at the Antrim and Cork conventions for the controversial rule to remain in place.

In Clare, Eire Og delegate Pat Daly called on the GAA to "wake up".

"The ban (against the playing of foreign games) has been gone since 1973, if Frank Sinatra can play in Croke Park, then why not the Irish international rugby team?"

However, Antrim county chairman Joe O'Boyle warned against the GAA making its stadium available to "major competitors".

"And why should we lease our stadium to a Government that reneged on an agreement committing major grants to the development of the stadium?" said O'Boyle.