Pairc Ui Chaoimh may not have got government funding if it wasn’t for the Rugby World Cup, admits GAA chief

Politicians will be climbing over themselves to claim credit for this

Ireland are hoping to host the Rugby Word Cup in 2023 or 2027, but a slight problem is the limited number of top class stadiums around the country. A proposal that GAA stadia could help  in any bid was initially agreed in December by the GAA and the IRFU, with government funding for six GAA stadium upgrades also part of the deal. Plans to redevelop Cork's Pairc Uí Chaoimh have been on the cards for along time but it now seems that the work carried out there will form a central part of any World Cup bid. A recent announcement will see the government fund almost half of the cost of the works down by the Lee and the GAA are very happy to get help from those on Kildare Street. GAA Director General Paraic Duffy says its clear that a possible bid to host the World Cup had to include a stadium in Ireland's second largest city, and the government money should help in any successful bid. 'I think the Rugby World Cup was certainly a factor and probably a help for getting the funding for the redevelopment of Pairc Uí Chaoimh,' he said. 'If the country wants a successful bid and we want to stage the tournament properly then we need good stadia and GAA stadia are an important part of that.' Work on the stadium is due to get underway shortly and the Monaghan man admits that it's about time the arena, known for its tiny away dressing room and uncomfortable seats, was done away with. 'The stadium was passed its sell-by-date. It has to go. Cork needs a major stadium. If we want to continue bringing patrons to our games we have to have top of the range facilities. We need comfortable stadia and it was absolutely essential that we rebuilt Pairc Uí Chaoimh. Either that or just knock it down. It’s not fit for purpose any longer.' H/T to Newstalk