GAA grant permission for rugby and soccer to take place in the Páirc in coming months

THE GAA has given the green light for "rugby and soccer activity" to take place in Croke Park and Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the coming months.

Meetings of the GAA's Management Committee and Central Council took place on Friday night and Saturday morning. The GAA didn't elaborate only to say in a short statement that "permission was granted for rugby and soccer activity in Páirc an Chrócaigh and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the coming months."

The Páirc first hosted a rugby match in November 2022, which was between Munster and South Africa, a game the Reds won 28-14.

The second rugby game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh took place last month when Munster hosted Super Rugby winners the Crusaders at what was a sold out stadium as Munster won 21-19.

The only soccer match to date that has been played at the iconic venue was in September 2018, a testimonial match between a Manchester United selection and a Celtic and Ireland selection for the late Liam Miller. A crowd of 42,878 turned up that day. That fixture had been plagued by controversy before the GAA made the right decision and opened its doors to allow fans pay tribute to Miller and raise money for his family.

The GAA's Central Council presented on Saturday with details of a proposal to facilitate Leinster rugby games at Croker and UPMC Nowlan Park, as the Aviva will be undergoing works before staging the Europa League final in May.

Leinster take on Leicester in the last 16 of the European Champions Cup on April 6. If Leinster reach the semi-final on the weekend of May 4, Croke Park will be used.

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There is also the possibility of GAA HQ being needed for the knock-out stages of the URC, though a quarter-final would have to go to Friday, June 7, as the Leinster hurling final is fixed for the next day. The semis and final are on the following two weekends.

Croke Park is also an option for a 'fanzone' for the Europa League final on May 22, though that would be on the basis Liverpool qualify. They're the strongest club on their side of the draw, with Bayer Leverkusen the team to beat on the other side.

Australian events promotion company TEG is looking to stage a soccer friendly later in the summer on Jones Road and Kilkenny's home is going to host a Leinster URC game later this year.