A statement yesterday evening from Waterford Bohemians has revealed that the club will no longer be able to avail of the facilities at Ballygunner GAA club.
Boh's Saturday morning academy was being held at the indoor facilities in Ballygunner for the past two weeks.
The club now have to move outdoors while they look for a new venue to host the academy.
Boh's Statement
On Friday evening a statement on Boh's Facebook page read
Bohemians were this morning notified by Ballygunner GAA club that they can no longer hire out their Indoor Arena to our club.We have been informed that a third party wrote to GAA Headquarters in Croke Park complaining that Ballygunner GAA club was allowing non-GAA activities to take place on their property and that as a result Ballygunner would face sanction if these activities were not cancelled with immediate effect.Therefore unfortunately tomorrow's Academy has had to switch venue back to Ben Wadding Park, Poleberry with a start time of 9am.
As a club we are deeply disappointed with the decision of GAA HQ. We will be looking for an alternative indoor venue going forward but for tomorrow the Academy will be held in Ben Wadding Park. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to the children and parents.
Ballygunner View
WLR have contacted Croke Park for comment on the situation, but have not received a reply at the time of writing.
Bohemians View
Bohemians club secretary Ian Barrett says that
We're very grateful of the fact that we were able to avail of their facilities. Their hands are tied, and it's really the third party who rang Croke Park or emailed them or sent a letter or whatever it was, that they're the people that have kind of opened this can of worms to a certain degree in the use of facilities belonging to GAA clubs.
I'm sure there's not a GAA club in the country this morning, where there's some sort of activity going on this morning thats not GAA, whether it be pilates or yoga or dancing, or whatever it is.
It's just a pity that in this day, given the current circumstances with the pandemic and what kids have been through over the past, the bones of the past two years, we're trying to get them active we're trying to get them out playing sports; their mental health their well being. Here we have someone who's taken issue with that and bring it to attention that a particular rule that well if it's enforced throughout the country well I don't know.
Their hands are tied, because it's, their higher echelons are making the decisions on their behalf, and they have to abide them just like us. If the FAI came to us and said, You can't do X, Y and Z, we have to adhere to it. So in fairness, to Ballygunner their caught between a rock and a hard place; they wanted the facilitate us, but unfortunately, not been allowed to do so. Maybe back in the 1960s, this thing would have happened with the ban and stuff like this, but I thought we had moved on from those days.
GAA Rules
Looking at the GAA Official Guide 2021 Part 1, Chapter 5 "Control of Association Property" it states that
5.1 Uses of Property
(a) All property including Grounds, Club Houses, Halls, Dressing Rooms and Handball Alleys owned or controlled by units of the Association "Association 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, which accord with the Aims of the Association, that may
(b) Central Council has the power, in exceptional circumstances, to authorise the use of Association Property held by a County Committee, Provincial Council or Central Council for activities other than those controlled by the Association in accordance with policy adopted by Central Council.
c) Central Council has the power to authorise the use of Association Property which is located outside of Ireland for games other than those controlled by the Association.
Resolution
While the situation is yet to be resolved, it's important to point out that Ballygunner are not at fault in this situation, as stressed by Barrett.
GAA properties can only be used for "for the purpose of or in connection with the playing of the Games controlled by the Association", but there is scope for that situaiton to be changed.
Part B to the rule states that Central council has the power to allow other non GAA activities in club facilities " in accordance with policy adopted by Central Council".
