Talks on a big screen and fan zone for All Ireland final

Talks are ongoing between Cork City Council and Cork County Board about ‘all matters’ including the erection of a big screen to allow fans, who won’t be able to get tickets for the All-Ireland senior hurling final, to watch the big game between the Rebels and the Banner County on Sunday week.

In a response to a query from The Echo, a spokesperson for the Cork County Board said: “Cork GAA are engaging around all matters with City Council in relation to the All Ireland SHC final.”

The discussion about the possibility of a big screen and fan zone to be arranged for the clash with Clare arose at Monday’s meeting of Cork City Council when newly elected Sinn Féin councillor, Michelle Gould proposed that standing orders should be set aside to allow a discussion as the matter had been raised too late for it to be considered as a motion because Cork had only qualified for the decider by defeating reigning champions Limerick on Sunday.

At that meeting, council chief executive Ann Doherty said that the matter had been discussed at an internal meeting of officials and that they had reached out to the GAA.

A spokesperson for the authority said it had nothing to add to those comments but that there would be an update from the council later in the week.

Speaking to The Echo, the Sinn Féin councillor said that many genuine fans would be unable to get tickets for the match and the provision of a big screen in the city centre or Páirc Uí Chaoimh would make a memorable day of it in the city.

“If we held something like this in Cork, people would have a great day out, great memories, family friendly.

Ms Gould said that she was disappointed that the matter couldn’t have been agreed at Monday’s meeting and pointed out that it couldn’t have been included in the agenda as the result of the semi-final hadn’t been known until Sunday.