Dublin (AFP) – The Liam Miller memorial match for the Republic of Ireland international midfielder who died of cancer aged 36 will go ahead at Cork’s Gaelic Games ground following a u-turn by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) on Saturday.
The GAA had originally refused permission to the organisers of the September 25 match, between a Manchester United legends team managed by Roy Keane and a combined Celtic/Ireland side, to be played at Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh because of their rules that so-called garrison games can not be played at Gaelic Game venues.
Garrison games — such as cricket, rugby union and football — are those deemed to have been introduced by the British when they ruled Ireland and had garrisons of troops on the island.
However, on Saturday the GAA Council tweeted that they had changed their minds after widespread opprobrium was heaped on them for their stance over the game for the Manchester United and Celtic star, who died in February of oesophageal cancer.
“The Liam Miller tribute match will take place at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Tuesday September 25th,” tweeted the GAA’s central council.
The organisers of the match hope to raise funds for his widow, Clare, and children, Kory, Leo and Belle. Some of the proceeds will also go to a local hospice.
The 45,000 tickets for the game, which had originally been scheduled for the 7,300-seater Turner’s Cross, sold out within minutes, and will also feature a Gaelic Games event.
By allowing the memorial match to be played at Cork’s ground organisers believe they will raise an extra 2million euros ($2.3million, £1.7million).
A GAA source confirmed to The Irish Times that the full proceeds will go to the organisers of the benefit match and it will be at their discretion what other charitable causes benefit.
Michael O’Flynn, a property developer and chairman of the organising committee, met with GAA president John Horan and its director general Tom Ryan in Dublin this week.
“I am delighted with the decision and I really appreciate the GAA considering this request in the way that they have over the last week and I have to commend all involved for agreeing to give us Pairc Ui Chaoimh — it will greatly help our cause and indeed other causes,” he was cited as saying in The Irish Times.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had been among those who expressed their displeasure over the GAA’s stance saying earlier in the week the stadium “is there with the help of €30 million of taxpayers money (it recently underwent a 80million euros renovation), and those are taxpayers who play all forms of sport and none”.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2vc2zVd
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