TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar last night announced details of a five-stage roadmap out of lockdown – with Gaelic Games set to resume in July as part of phase four of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
From July 20, the government says GAA and soccer teams will be allowed resume activities, though only where limitations are placed on the numbers of spectators and where social distancing can be maintained.
The first phase, which starts on May 18, will see the opening of outdoor public sports amenities such as tennis courts and golf courses where social distancing can be maintained, followed by the second phase on June 8 where people will be allowed to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, involving small group team sports training (but not matches) where social distancing can be maintained and where there is no contact.
Phase three, from June 29, will permit "behind closed doors" sporting activities events where arrangements are in place to enable participants to maintain social distancing.
The final phase begins on August 10 and will permit close physical contact sports such as boxing and rugby. Gyms and sports clubs will be opened once effective cleaning has been carried out and social distancing can be maintained.
Mass sports gatherings will only be allowed "in accordance with both indoor and outdoor numbers restrictions".
Last night’s announcement at least offers hope of a return to on-field action, amid fears there could be none in 2020.
From an Ulster perspective, Ulster Council secretary Brian McAvoy – speaking before last night’s announcement – said the provincial body had already considered the prospect of no Ulster Championship this year, and expects the impact of the pandemic to have “a knock-on effect for many years to come”.
“We are planning on the basis that if we get an Ulster Championship, it’ll be a bonus,” said the Burren man.
“Already there are implications. We’ve obviously a number of staff furloughed at the minute, every member of staff who’s not furloughed has taken a pay cut. We have cancelled a number of competitions, we have redrawn the Ulster Minor Football Championship so that, in the event of things getting up and running, it can run with no back door.
“We were due to start the Ulster Championship on the 10th of May, obviously that won’t be happening. But look, this is all up in the air and, in terms of financial implications not only for Ulster GAA but the wider Association, there’s going to be a knock-on effect for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, McAvoy insists any argument in favour of pay for play in the GAA has been “totally put to bed” in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
The issue of pay for play has long been a hot topic in the GAA, especially with the rising profile of the inter-county game.
However, McAvoy feels the financial fall-out from the pandemic – and the huge impact it has had upon sport worldwide – proves that the GAA couldn’t sustain “any sort of professional body”.
“The one thing we have in our favour is that while we’ll all take a massive hit, we’re an amateur organisation. That is crucial at this stage,” he said.
“If this has taught us anything, it has totally put to bed any argument that the GAA could sustain any sort of a professional body. That argument’s dead; it always was dead, but for those that needed convincing, they don’t need convincing now.
“If they do they’re living in cloud cuckoo land.”
