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Newbridge or Nowhere | GAA's Alan Milton insists health and safety behind original decision

The GAA's Director of Communications Alan Milton says health and safety was the only consideratio...



Newbridge or Nowhere | GAA'...
Videos

Newbridge or Nowhere | GAA's Alan Milton insists health and safety behind original decision

The GAA's Director of Communications Alan Milton says health and safety was the only consideration in the original decision to stage the Kildare vs Mayo All Ireland third round qualifier at Croke Park rather than Newbridge. 

The GAA have since moved to reverse that decision today and the game will go ahead at Newbridge, Kildare's designated home ground.

Milton joined Joe Molloy and Dave McIntyre on the Newsround to discuss both the original decision and the reversal.

Newbridge or Nowhere | GAA's Alan Milton insists health and safety behind original decision

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

He explained the process which led to the decision being reversed, saying: "The CCCC convened this morning to review the situation in light of developments last night where a meeting took place in Kildare where a whole new set of circumstances around match management were put on the table in conjunction with An Garda Siochana.

"Such were the safeguards that were provided that over the course of that conversation, the goalposts were moved considerably and moved positively in the direction of Newbridge being able to facilitate the fixture." 

Alan Milton | INPHO

Milton also discussed the health and safety aspect that contributed to the original decision made by the Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC).

"One of the concerns would have been families - young families possibly as well - turning up to the ground with no tickets thinking that they might get tickets because it doesn't matter how often we preach, 'don't come to the ground if you don't have a ticket', human nature being what it is, people will try and they'll come along," he said.

"This wasn't done for any other reason other than health and safety. I know there's lots of theories around and I heard some of them thrown around which were hard to comprehend. It was done for no other reason other than [health and safety]. Health and safety isn't just about what happens in the ground."

He added that, "You still haven't given me a reason why St Conleth's Park doesn't host Leinster Championship games. So there's obviously a challenge with the facility and that obviously bore out on Saturday."

You can watch the full interview on our video player above

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