GAA Opens Way For Soccer And Rugby At Croke Park, 2005

votes returned 325 spy votes one valid pole 324 T 227 Neil 97 the motion is passed an historic day in Irish sport as the GAA vote to open their doors to other codes in certain circumstances much drama at krog Park the residents protest outside at one stage threatening to drown out debate on rule 42 following a terone motion the ballot was to be a secret one and many thought that would damage the S campaign the debate that followed was ideological and passionate would it make any sense for me to allow my competitors the use of my showroom to display their goods and for me that is the bottom line if a neighbor's house went on fire as a fmer kahir of wford said to me the other night and you had a spare room you wouldn't leave them out in the cold and I think we owe the Irish people that it needed a 2/3 majority for any amendment to rule 42 but when the votes were cast and counted a new era had been ushered in the G of all lived was in a different era on the island of Ireland um we live in a very proud Island now an island that's able to match shoulders with with any nation in the world uh and there's no reason why the the GIC atletic Association can't put its world-class Stadium on the world stage I think that the debate was very emotional it was very intense it was a good debate I don't think we have to worry about splits or anything like that or a threat to GA identity I think we move forward now and get on with the rest of our lives the groundbreaking decision paves the way for soccer and rugby to be played here and the move was warmly welcomed by the t- shuk and the minister for sport I really was concerned that if the vote had gone the other way it would have had negative vibrations amongst the young people right across this country that would have been very unfair to the GAA which has made such an enormous contribution to our society which is after all one of the great repositories of our cultural heritage much of the credit for today's move will go to GA president Shan Kelly whose leadership on the issue proves crucial I'm very proud I think that many people were dubious about the association being able to make this very generous decision because basically it is a very generous decision we are helping out our uh greatest rivals in one sense but has been said today that there are friendly friendly Rivals we've also looked at the big picture in terms of the country and I think that was a very good decision and uh I'm very proud of the association