Spectators set for GAA return

Officials from the GAA, The Camogie Association and the Ladies GFA have all welcomed the announcement today about a return of spectators to sporting events in June.

WHAT THEY SAID

GAA

The GAA is delighted with confirmation of the planned return of spectators to our games on a pilot basis in the coming weeks.

This follows similar developments in the Six Counties earlier this week.

The presence of supporters at our matches and the atmosphere they generate, are integral parts of the GAA experience and we look forward to the staging of our games at all levels of Association in the weeks and months ahead after what has been a challenging year to date for everyone.

We would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jack Chambers, his officials, Sport Ireland and The Combined FAI, GAA, IRFU, Working Party for Return of Spectators, which has been working to progress matters in this area since the start of the pandemic.

We particularly welcome confirmation of the GAA trial fixtures and are receptive to staging more of these exercises around the country as permitted.

We will be in contact with our units at every level in the coming days with further guidance and want to assure our members and supporters that we will be working with the authorities and doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of spectators to our games in the greatest numbers possible over the remainder of 2021.

LADIES GFA

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association is pleased to confirm that the Lidl National League Division 1 and 2 Finals will form the basis of a Government-approved test event for spectators at Croke Park on Saturday, June 26.

The LGFA wishes to place on the record its thanks to the Working Group for return of spectators to stadia, Ministers Catherine Martin and Jack Chambers, and to our colleagues at Croke Park for making the stadium available on that date.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming spectators to Croke Park on Saturday, June 26, for what should be a very special occasion.

CAMOGIE

The Camogie Association are delighted to announce that the Littlewoods National League Final taking place in Croke Park on June 20th will be a test event for the safe return of spectators to sport.

This is a huge honour for the Camogie Association and an endorsement of the immense effort from our fantastic volunteers and staff team across the country, to ensure that Camogie players safely returned to training and play amid covid restrictions this year.

We are very grateful to the Ministers Martin and Chambers, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and media, Sport Ireland and all of our colleagues in the Working Group for Safe Return of Spectators to Sports Stadia, particularly to the GAA and Croke Park, who have worked tirelessly over the past year to enable these test events to happen, planning safely for the return of sports fans to live games.