Former GAA president recalls the Queen’s historic visit to Croke Park
FORMER GAA president Christy Cooney has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and said her historic visit to Croke Park in 2011 was ‘probably a day we never saw coming’.
Mr Cooney recalled yesterday: ‘When you look back at it now, it was probably a day we never saw coming. At the time Páraic Duffy [then Director General of GAA] and myself were requested by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, to consider a visit from the Queen to Croke Park.
‘We discussed it and we made the decision that we felt it was the right thing to do. Then we spoke to our various representations around the country, particularly the people in Ulster, because it was going to be quite challenging for them.
‘We got an agreement to move forward and went ahead with the visit. And also because Croke Park is such a part of our history, not alone for our games, but for the events of Bloody
Sunday. In that respect it was important for us to show that we were moving forward as an association, but also that we were very conscious of the Good Friday Agreement and what that was creating and that we as a sporting association and a cultural association who were very much a part of the fabric of our country would support what was happening with that agreement.
‘We were also conscious not only of the people in Ireland playing our games, but also the people in Britain that were keeping the GAA flag flying there. It was so important to Irish people in Britain and important that we recognise them through this process.
‘I think people felt it showed a sense of maturity that we had taken this step to welcome the Queen and Prince Philip to Croke Park.’