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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Katie Taylor homecoming fight

Summary

Deputy Andrews called on the Government to ensure Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight is held in Croke Park or another major venue. The Minister of State said the Government strongly supports major events, has already engaged with Taylor’s management, and is working through the funding and cost details.

Given all that Katie Taylor has done for Ireland, Irish sport and women in sport, it is important that the Government does everything it can to ensure she has her homecoming fight in Croke Park in front of 80,000 fans. Certainly if Croke Park is not possible, a bigger venue than the 3Arena would be ideal. Some 80,000 fans in Croke Park cheering on Katie Taylor would be a fitting acknowledgement of the contribution she has made to Irish sport and to women in sport. Boxing has made such a contribution to communities throughout the country. Will the Government pull out all the stops to ensure Katie Taylor has her fight on 20 May with Amanda Serrano in Croke Park?

Comment on this
Thomas Byrne Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Fianna Fáil

I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it would be wonderful to see Katie Taylor in Croke Park. To that end, my very first meeting with anyone from outside the Department was with Katie Taylor's manager, Brian Peters, in the early part of January. It was explained to us that there was a funding gap between what the promoters were prepared to pay for the fight and what the fight would actually cost. We said that the Government absolutely supports major events, but there is a process to go through. Immediately after the meeting, we raised queries on what the cost would be and other details that would be necessary. The Department is currently considering responses to those queries. One of the difficulties is with the date. If one is doing the cost-benefit calculations with regard to tourism, which the major events have to go through, one must consider that the Heineken Cup final is already being hosted on 20 May. It is a huge event in European rugby and Dublin tourism will be full that night. A fight in November which was previously mooted for last year would have been an entirely different calculation. However, the consideration is still ongoing. Mr. Hearn said on some MMA channel yesterday that the Government had not been in touch, but that is simply not the case. There has been a range of meetings and correspondence in the past while.

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