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Although anti-rugby, I love the way that the GAA have stuck it up the other sports for so long!
Croke Park is a magnificent ground too, it'll be a case of "don't let the door slap you on the arse on the way out" once the Lansdowne Road works are complete!!!
Amazing that Irelands five biggest grounds are all GAA venues with Lansdowne Road currently sixth (although second on seating).
Croke Park has a capacity of 82,500 with 69,500 seats. Would be great Tests to go to if able.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium...oke_park.shtml
Croke Park hosts 'foreign games'
From correspondents in Dublin
January 18, 2006
DUBLIN's Croke Park, the spiritual home of Gaelic football, is to stage Irish football and rugby internationals for the first time in its near 100-year history in 2007.
Two rugby union internationals have been scheduled for February and at least three football matches in March, October and November for the 82,500 capacity stadium, one of Europe's largest sports venues.
The ground is owned by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), a predominately nationalist and Catholic sporting organisation, whose "Rule 42" banned the playing of "foreign games" such as football and rugby union internationals at its grounds.
But knowing that Lansdowne Road, the home of Ireland's national rugby union and football teams, is set for redevelopment later this year, the rule was temporarily relaxed.
In a joint statement overnight the GAA, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed that they had reached agreement on playing football and rugby internationals at Croke Park.
"Discussions on the possible use of Croke Park have been ongoing over the last few weeks and these discussions are scheduled to continue relative to operational matters," the statement said.
But it stressed: "The situation post 2007 has not been discussed or considered and any future application will be reviewed in the context of the Lansdowne Road development project in 2007."
Philip Browne, the IRFU chief executive, said: "This agreement represents a significant milestone in Irish sporting history."
His counterpart at the FAI, John Delaney, hailed the agreement as "an historic day for soccer and for sport in Ireland".
Sean Kelly, President of the GAA which oversees sports such as hurling and gaelic football, said he is pleased the agreement has been reached between the respective sporting bodies.
Agence France-Presse