Calls for all-island policy as North lifts limit to 400

ULSTER Council PRO Declan Woods has hailed as ‘hugely positive’ the decision by the Northern Ireland Executive to lift the ban on crowds attending sports events in the six counties. While the Executive didn’t put a limit on the numbers allowed from yesterday, only that they be ‘determined by the venue in line with public health advice’,

Ulster GAA set that limit at 400 spectators for Gaelic games. That figure includes essential match personnel and is a huge boost as club action in the six counties had already started up in front of empty terraces. And Woods called for uniformity across the island of Ireland in terms of spectators at Gaelic games matches, with only half of that currently allowed in the other 26 counties. ‘Yes it makes sense to have uniformity. We are uniquely placed from the perspective that we are a ninecounty province with six following the rules and guidelines of one jurisdiction and three following the other – yet we play a game which is centrally controlled from Croke Park. Obviously, of course, we want to see a situation where we get to parity across all gaels but at the moment we’re in a situation where we’ve been following the direction of NPHET, or the HSE, along with the Northern Ireland Executive. That’s the

position we are in. Yes, we’d love to get to a situation whereby there is one common ruling across the board but we are operating across two jurisdictions.’ The GAA have been lobbying the government to increase the limit and enable uniformity, with president John Horan very vocal on the same subject. And Woods added: ‘John Horan is on the record as having made representation directly and in the media in that regard. ‘Naturally, that’s something that I think all units of the association would support.’ Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisín McConville shared a similar sentiment yesterday, the RTÉ analyst welcoming the 400 limit: ‘Hopefully that becomes uniform because we live right on the border. Last week we had no spectators in Armagh and two miles down the road in County Louth you were allowed spectators. ‘Now that seems to have flipped on its head a little bit. ‘Hopefully we can get to something uniform, agreed by both governments and the GAA and that’s when we’d get to an acceptable point that people would be happy with.’ Woods said that the lifting of crowd restrictions by the Northern Ireland Executive is very significant. ‘From a sixcounty perspective it’s huge, in that they commenced their competitions with absolutely no supporters allowed. ‘They’ve now gone from nobody allowed to double what is permitted in the 26. ‘The key point here is, yes the Northern Ireland Executive have made the announcement, they have clearly articulated that spectators are allowed to attend outdoor games with numbers to be determined by the venue, in line with public health advice.’