07 Dec Dillon calls for family members to attend All Ireland Finals
Mayo TD Alan Dillon has called for Government to work with the Return to Sports Expert Group and the GAA to allow intercounty players a set number of All-Ireland final passes for their family members to attend the hurling, football, and camogie finals.
Deputy Dillon, a former Mayo footballer and two times GAA all-star has written to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Sport to ask that Government step in and respond to players’ request for six passes per panel member to attend the finals.
Deputy Dillon said “playing the All-Ireland final is such a huge moment in many of these players’ lives. They may never get another opportunity in their lifetime. It so important for them that their family members share those moments in the immediate aftermath of the game, I know it would mean a huge amount to these players.
The Fine Gael spokesperson on Sport said, “while in Level 5 restrictions obviously, Covid19 guidelines were much stricter with squad numbers limited to 26. “
“Thankfully moving into less stringent Level 3 rules squad numbers have now increased and I see no reason why a special exemption for a relatively small number of family spectators cannot occur in a modern 82,000 capacity stadium with all Covid19 protocols around social distancing and mask-wearing etc in place.”
“The intercounty championships have served up some fantastic games and have entertained millions of Irish people during the winter months of the pandemic.
“People need to realise, that players getting to an All-Ireland final requires a massive amount of support in the background. Family members and loved ones make huge sacrifices to allow this to happen and from a players’ perspective they’d like to recognize that and they’d want for nothing more than for them to be in a position to attend the All-Ireland final.”
“it would be such a morale boost for the players to have their family members present and share in the aftermath be it victory celebrations or consoling in defeat.”