Club games in the six counties resumed this weekend with up to 400 persons including playing squads, officials, media and grounds staff allowed to attend following relaxations announced by the Northern Ireland Executive. For the rest of Ireland government guidelines still restrict capacity to 200 persons. The GAA in Croke Park have been campaigning, both in public and behind the scenes, to relax this restriction and allow up to 500 to attend GAA games. While the threat of spreading Covid-19 cannot be eliminated the Association have a range of protocols – for players, management, officials and spectators – in place to minimize the threat insofar as is possible. The short-term suspension of activities at CLG Cloich Cheann Fhaola this weekend is an example of these protocols in action.
With the football championship beginning from Friday, Cathaoirleach Mick McGrath is also stepping up support for relaxing the restrictions on attendance. This week he re-iterated his appeal for the National Public Health Emergency Team to re-examine the need for a 200 person restriction in the controlled environment of GAA grounds where 2m distances can be easily accommodated.
In the event, that the current ceiling of 200 remains many clubs throughout the County will be streaming championship on their club website/Facebook Page/YouTube account so watch out for announcements on your club’s social media in the latter part of next week.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sun 26th Jul
