GAA President Jarlath Burns says the association is "very supportive" of Super Valu Páírc Uí Chaoimh hosting Euro 2028 games after Casement Park was ruled out of the reckoning.
On Tuesday, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the proposal that Páírc Uí Chaoimh host Euro 2028 games previously earmarked for Belfast was being "seriously looked at".
Minister for State in the Department of Sport Thomas Byrne has contacted the FAI requesting that both the Cork venue and Croke Park be thrown "into the mix" when it comes to awarding the matches originally envisioned for Belfast.
Speaking this morning at a briefing on the future of hurling, Burns wholeheartedly backed the idea of Páirc Uí Chaoimh being considered, while acknowledging that the decision ultimately rested with UEFA.
"I have to give credit to the Tanaiste Michéal Martin and the Minister for Sport because I only mentioned it to Michéal Martin three days ago. It had been suggested to me by Kevin O'Donovan from Cork two months ago just to plant the seed.
"We know that Páirc Uí Chaoimh is open for all business and we would recommend as many games as possible to be in it.
"It’s great how quickly they’ve come out of the blocks but at the end of the day that’s a decision that will be made by UEFA but if we were asked to nominate a stadium for the games that were to be in Casement Park that they would definitely be in Páirc Ui Chaoimh in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, Corcaigh.
"I can't speak for UEFA – it’s up to them – but the fact that the Tanaiste and the Minister for Sport came out very quickly in favour of it yesterday is very positive news for us. At the end of the day, it’s a decision for UEFA to make but we know exactly where we stand on that."
It was accepted that Páirc Uí Chaoimh would require alterations to meet UEFA specifications, with the latter insisting on all-seater stadiums for Euro 2028.
"Well, that's something that is aspirational at the moment and that’s something we have considered but certainly the GAA would be involved in any decision like that."
The original plan of the new Casement Park hosting games at Euro 2028 was scotched last week, with the UK government confirming late on Friday that it would not fund the redevelopment of the derelict west Belfast venue in time for the European championships.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said in a letter to the Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons that "the estimated build costs had risen dramatically, from £180m when the Euro 2028 bid was awarded in October 2023 to potentially over £400m".
The decision means that, as things stand, Northern Ireland will not host any games at the Euros, with Windsor Park (18,500 capacity) falling well short of the minimum 30,000 capacity insisted upon by UEFA.
At the weekend, the London Times reported that the games originally planned for Belfast would be shared out among the Aviva Stadium, Wembley, Hampden Park and the Principality Stadium.
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