Páirc Uí Chaoimh gets green light for Ireland WNT and Munster rugby matches
GLORY DAY: Denise O'Sullivan of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the match against France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Munster Rugby and the Ireland women’s football team will both return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh later this year following approval by the GAA’s Central Council this afternoon.
The women’s football team will host Slovenia at the home of Cork GAA on Tuesday, June 3 in what will be their final Nations League group outing. Munster confirmed they plan to play a European Champions Cup pool stage game at the venue in December.
Munster have not graced Páirc Uí Chaoimh since they welcomed New Zealand outfit Crusaders to the venue in February of last year. This will be their third occasion playing at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The women’s national team, meanwhile, made their Páirc Uí Choimh debut last July when finishing out the group stages of their most recent Nations League campaign with a 3-1 win over France.
The granting of permission for the two games this afternoon, along with the Cork City-Celtic FC friendly already in place for July 8, brings to three the number of non-GAA games that will be staged at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2025.
While Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O'Donovan has repeatedly stressed his desire to see as many teams use the stadium as is feasible, he stated earlier this week at a Cork Chamber business breakfast that “Concerts are the only thing that will move the dial on debt here. Everything else really is to keep the lights on.” That debt currently stands at €31m.
O’Donovan previously told a Cork county board meeting that the above referenced Munster-Crusaders game, if it was a sell-out, which it was, would be worth “between €150,000-€200,000 to the stadium”.
The same figures apply to both the Celtic-Cork City friendly and December's Munster rugby game, should they surpass the 40,000-attedance mark.
This will be the second time that the WNT will have played in the Cork venue following last year's 3-1 victory over France in front of 18,399 spectators. Local favourite Denise O'Sullivan wrote her name into the history books when she scored the first international goal at the Páirc against the French. The FAI said that ticket details for the June showdown will be confirmed in due course.
In statement published on their website Saturday evening, Munster said GAA Central Council had: “approved in principle the province’s application to host one EPCR Pool fixture at, if the province qualifies for next season’s Investec Champions Cup”.
Munster’s hopes of Champions Cup rugby next season were given a major boost on Saturday with a bonus-point URC derby victory over Connacht at Mayo GAA’s MacHale Park.
The province added that should an EPCR pool game be staged in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, “Munster Rugby will advise on the number and blend of URC / EPCR games to be played in Thomond Park and Virgin Media Park next season”.
Meanwhile, also at today's Central Council meeting, the Cork motion to halve the 60-day period where a player who has played abroad cannot line out with their own club was beaten.
Brought forward by Midleton, who earlier this year saw hurler Sam Quirke – as well as club chairperson John Fenton and secretary Liam Wade – receive 12-week suspensions when Quirke played a Cork Premier SHC game against Charleville before his 60-day sanction had expired. All three were later reinstated by the Central Council.
Under Rule 9.2 (e), there is a 60-day period during which the player, who has sought to play abroad, cannot line out with their own club. That will remain in place following this afternoon’s failed vote to reduced the period to 30 days.
