A Gaelic football club in County Longford, Ireland has been hit with a fine for hosting a Jamie Carragher Soccer School.
Dromard GAA have been fined €2,000 (£1,500) by the Central Hearings Committee for allowing a non-GAA event to take place on its premises in August 2015.
Such non-Gaelic Games activity on GAA grounds breaks the Gaelic Athletic Association’s rule 5.1 (a), which states that property “shall be used only for the purpose of, or in connection with, the playing of the Games controlled by the Association, and for such other purposes not in conflict with the Aims and Objects of the Association, that may be sanctioned from time to time by the Central Council.”
Carragher’s soccer school took place on the club’s 3G pitch which Dromard argued was a community resource, according to the Irish Times.
It isn’t the first such incident to come under scrutiny. Nemo Rangers of County Cork were cautioned in 2010 for allowing the Irish rugby team to train on its grounds.
Just last summer, All-Ireland senior football semi-finals were rescheduled so the ‘Croke Park Classic’, an American football game between Penn State and Central Florida, could take place at the GAA headquarters.
Croke Park also played host to the Irish national football and rugby teams during the reconstruction of Lansdowne Road into the Aviva Stadium between 2007 and 2010.
It didn’t seem to come into consideration for Dromard who confirmed that they will appeal the fine.
(1/2)Following on from the statement released by the Central Hearings Committee, Dromard GAA have decided to exercise their right to appeal
— Dromard GAA (@DromardGAA) February 4, 2016
(2/2) the sanction to the CAC. The club will be making no further comment on this matter.
— Dromard GAA (@DromardGAA) February 4, 2016
