A collection of Dublin GAA fans have threatened to boycott all retail outlets in Croke Park for next month's All-Ireland quarter-final after they were advised by Dublin City Councillor Christy Burke that they would not be able to bring in a giant flag to Dublin games, or any other games for that matter, at Croke Park.

The ban comes after the GAA introduced a new safety directive last month which dictates that all flags, bags or packages exceeding an A4 size (8.27in/21cm × 11.7/ 29.7cm) will be prohibited from the grounds.

As a result, a sub-section of Dublin fans have threatened to boycott all bars, food stalls and retailers at the ground until the GAA addresses supporters concerns.

A unified statement released across a number Dublin GAA fan pages read:

"Yesterday's announcement that the large Dublin flag regularly seen at games would not be allowed on Hill 16 any longer was the latest in a long line of ridiculous rules and regulations for supporters who attend Hill 16 on match day.

"Unnecessary searches even before the new safety rules came in, caps taken off bottles of minerals, flags banned and a huge perspex screen are just some of the unnecessary 'safety measures' we have had to contend with.

"Yet the GAA and Croke Park have no issue leaving stairwells and fire exits blocked during games along with keeping us penned in behind the perspex screen. Where are the perspex screens for the other stands? Yesterday's banning of the large flag has led us to finally say enough is enough.

"We as social media pages that represent Dublin GAA supporters are therefore calling on all Dublin GAA supporters to boycott every retail facility inside Croke Park on August 5th. We would urge you all to bring your own food and drinks and not contribute one cent to the bars, shops and every other outlet inside Croke Park.

Expand Close Dublin and Kildare fans, on Hill 16, honour Bradley Lowery's memory during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Dublin and Kildare at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile SPORTSFILE / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dublin and Kildare fans, on Hill 16, honour Bradley Lowery's memory during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Dublin and Kildare at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

"We regret any loss to the franchises involved but the continued disregard for supporters has forced us to call for this action. This is the only action possible that allows us to protest while also allowing us to support our team.

"We will continue the call for this boycott until the GAA addresses supporters concerns and may take further action in the form of boycotting games at Croke Park in the future if our pleas fall on deaf ears."

Alan Milton, the GAA's ‎Director of Communications, insists that the giant flag ban is in line with the GAA's new safety directives and that the changes have been implemented in the best interests of supporter safety.

"We have taken a policy decision that any packages larger than A4 will not be allowed enter the stadium," said Milton.

"It's simple, we live in a different time where large articles cannot be brought into stadiums such as Croke Park. That's just modern society unfortunately.

"This is a stadium wide approach with nothing other than the interest of our patrons, and their health and safety, at heart.

"We are aware of the issues that have happened in Manchester, and other places, and we've had to amend our stadium regulations because of the changes in the environment, and to not do so, would be negligent."

The new directive states that any bags, flags or packages that exceed the A4 limit will not be allowed into Croke Park.

The new ruling has caused unrest with Dublin supporters who point to a giant flag being permitted at a U2 concert at Croke Park on July 22nd, and a giant flag of a Cork jersey at Semple Stadium in Thurles earlier this month, as signs of hypocrisy.

Milton said that he was unaware of the flag at the U2 concert, and that concerts extend beyond his responsibilities, which is limited to Gaelic Games, while in relation to the flags at Semple Stadium, he added that 'every stadium in the country liaises with the local statutory authorities and they then devise their own stadium regulations based on those meetings', but that largely, most of the stadium regulations are roughly the same throughout the country.

Among the other issues raised by the supporters group was the matter of overcrowding on Hill 16, which was referenced to in the statement with "Croke Park have no issue leaving stairwells and fire exits blocked during games along with keeping us penned in behind the perspex screen."

Richie Larkin of All Dublin GAA Fans, the Dublin fan group that owns the flag, said that fans are 'packed into the hill like animals' and that he fears that there is potential for a disaster on the hill.

"We have people that come in late and what they're doing is they're standing on the stairwells that lead out to where you stand on the hill and they're also blocking up the exits from the hill," said Larkin.

"The stewards can't do anything about it because they don't have enough manpower. They're going into the Nally [Stand], they're going into the far corner and they're coming over the railing. That's how they're filling it up, that's how it's getting chocker block, and there's nothing being done.

"The GAA's main issue here is health and safety yet they pen us in like animals."

The issue is supported by other Dublin fans with Jack Keating commenting on a Facebook post on All Dublin GAA fans with: "We should also get an online petition to remove the screen. Send it to HQ and demand clarity on why we are hemmed in like animals" while fellow Dublin fan Mark Dempsey commented on another post with: "Overcrowding and the cops ignoring fans jumping from the Nally into it; Pickpockets everywhere; exits blocked at important times; gobshites smoking everywhere; security men who look as though they should be doing the door on Mothercare, not Croker...and that perspex barrier is very dangerous...disaster is imminent lads."

Milton strongly refutes the potential for danger on the Hill while Burke added that he feels no such threat when watching Dublin games from that part of the stadium.

"The perspex screens have been in place since 2010 so I don't know why seven years on we're talking about that," added Milton.

"The perspex screens are there to help against pitch invasions and to protect people for healthy and safety from getting injured.

"We liaise with An Garda Síochána before every game and we could not take our health and safety any more seriously than we do. An Garda Síochána are happy with how we admit people into Hill 16 and the number of people we admit into Hill 16, and we work diligently to ensure only the numbers that Hill 16 can accommodate enter that part of the ground.

"We take great pride in the health and safety of the patrons that come into Croke Park and our safety record stands over that."

Burke, who has arranged a meeting between supporters and Croke Park stadium manager Peter McKenna, has said that he has heard no complaints of overcrowding on the hill but that the issue will be discussed with McKenna when the two sides meet next month.

"I was on the hill myself for the Westmeath game and I haven't heard any complaints," said Burke.

"I have been on the hill since the age of seven, and I can go back to the days when in the 1970s when it was dangerous, and you could of been crushed, but I can assure you that the GAA carry out thorough inspections on the days of games and the days leading up to games.

"Where I was standing on the hill, unless there's something wrong with me, there's plenty of space on the hill and I was only three rows back behind the goalkeeper.

"I've never heard a complaint and I've had sons, daughters, canvassers, workers, friends and they all go to the hill and I've never heard complaints."

Milton added that if supporters have genuine concerns with their stadium experience then they can address them to the communications team at Croke Park where they will receive a response.

"If people have a problem with Croke Park and they have genuine queries, and they pay their money to come in, they'll receive a response or a response will be articulated explaining our stance on certain issues, but again, that hasn't happened here so this is all megaphoned diplomacy through the media."

Online Editors