It is somewhat surreal to have finally arrived at what, basically, was the reasoning behind and motivation for production of this series all along. Hopes/desires for what the disabled viewing facllities in the ‘new’ Pairc Tailteann will be like.
Moreover, an ambition and genuine intent to be as proactive and assistive to those making the project become a reality as is humanely possible. To that end, it was indeed a pleasure and source of considerable pride to be able to initiate contact with Meath County Board offering whatever help/direction might be possible to ensure the construction of something which will adequately accommodate the broadest spectrum of disabled patrons possible.
At this point, I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to Runai, Coiste Na Mi Mr Ciaran Flynn, for his kind words regarding my assistance rendered at the time of the construction of the current disabled viewing facilities in Pairc Tailteann. Which a member of the current Meath senior football team’s backroom staff long ago dubbed “Boylan’s Shed”.
Humbling but scarcely merited recognition. That said, it was indeed uplifting and very encouraging to me that Ciaran was highly receptive to my offer of assistance in a similar guise as the latest facelift to our field at last becomes a reality.
Now, obviously, disabled facilities in any facet of life is something in which there is and will always be a vested interest for yours truly. But, put that subject matter and what has always been one of the central tenets of what makes life worth living – GAA – together and you are into the territory of something which has become an obsession. Up to and including the matter of – as a journalist – access to press facilities in various different public arenas. Not just sporting ones either. Indeed, not all that long ago, a sitting Government TD told this writer “You’d climb Croagh Patrick handier than you’d get around in that (wheelchair) “. But that’s a story for another day!
If you didn’t already know, for a period of about 10 years, I made the conscious decision not to go to matches in Croke Park. You often hear it said that timing is everything – well let me give you a theory on that.
Knockers and begrudgers jumped all over the fact that my timing in boycotting GAA HQ was more than coincidence because it coincided with a period when Meath couldn’t lay a glove on Dublin.
Bovine excrement. For one thing, during the period in question, nobody could get within a donkey’s roar of Jim Gavin’s team. And for thing the second, if that were the case, I wouldn’t have gone near a match between 1992 and 1995 either, when we were constantly getting the sh** kicked out of us by Dublin and others.
Are there times when being so emotionally invested in things, you wonder is it worth it, can you do it any more you would you just be better rolling (walking) away from it all? Of course. However, there are frequent occasions when the same could be said about merely living. Or writing, or wanting to farm or simply followlng – never mind being involved in – sport. Yet there always something, some craving, some drug, which keeps luring you back in.
Moreover, unless you’ve been in Yakutsk, Russia, (the coldest place on earth), you’ll know know that the degrading nature of the disabled viewing facilities in Croke Park have grinded my gears since my arse was the size of a shirt button.
So much so, in fact, that my thesis in my final year in college was, in basic terms, a case study of the accessability – or otherwise – of as many county grounds as was possible.
Regardless of what emerged from my whistle stop tour around the country, that which should have been the best had – and shamefully still has – much to learn from the rest.
Which was, in essence, the exact point made in the two columns keyboarded by me and very kindly published in the Sunday Independent by Sports Editor John Greene. An item ticked off the Bucket List, for sure, but one which, to my utmost regret, didn’t have anywhere near the desired impact where it was required most.
That said, the immediately preceding observation requires a degree of qualification because – while it remains disappointing, disheartening and no little insult to have written to Uachtarain CLG on two separate occasions and not even got as much as an acknowledgement of receipt of either from him or his office staff, there is at least evidence that my overtures got through to and impacted upon somebody in a position of influence.
Because, between the Indo printing the initial piece in the immediate aftermath of the Leinster SFC Final and the follow up to same on the weekend as Meath’s win over Galway, somebody obviously got wind of the central tenet of the point which one was endeavouring to make. Namely, how easily what would be some fairly mundane looking changes to an ordinary person could bring about incalculable differences to somebody with a disability.
My reason for believing my overtures struck a chord with somebody, somewhere simply being that – in between the two fixtures referred to above, one of the recommendations put forward in the initial offering was actually implemented by the time we were back in Croker taking on the Tribesmen.
That being the removal of a few rows of seats in one section towards the rear of the lower Cusack Stand. In fact, whoever got that much done actually went further and put together a great group of people who, collectively, are known as the Accessibility Team. And yes, their role is exactly what it says on the tin.
However, as admirable and welcome as all of the above undoubtedly is, the cold ignorance of the current President will take quite a bit of getting over. On that though, his time in the most important and revered job in Irish sport is winding down. Mind you, that in turn means there will be at least three individuals seeking votes to replace him in the not too distant future and it’s my earnest intention to at least try making contact with each of the runners in the race so as to determine whether they are possessed of the interest and/or initiative to firstly acknowledge that there is a genuine issue and then secondly commit to doing something about it.
Along the same lines though, I refer to the earlier mentioned exchange of emails with Meath Co Board Secretary Ciaran Flynn. The mere fact that the Dunsany and Kilmessan clubman got back to me almost immediately on receipt of my initial inquiry was progress in itself.
Simply by recognising that it is a genuine issue which deserves as much respect and attention to detail as any other aspect of the redevelopment.
Having said all of the above, as was the case with the two columns in the Sunday Independent, I want to make it very clear that, while yes, it has become a personal crusade – most especially in relation to Croke Park and Pairc Tailteann – it is a baton that was Not taken up for personal gain.
Rather, being constantly aware of the priviliged possession I am in compared to most people with disabilities. But, if kicking up a stink about problems that hang around like a bad smell, I will of course do so, gladly.
However, with the development in Pairc Tallteann that so many of us have pined for over so many years at least becoming a reality, it is a time of excited anticipation but equally an opportunity to effect and implement change as it will make such an incalculable difference to so many.
In the meantime, getting used to winning matches in Croker again is by no means a bad unexpected side effect. But there’s no place like home!
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