Kieran Shannon: Rugby in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a celebration of Cork's sporting heritage

Cork County Board executive prevented its own clubs from debating and voting on Rule 42 ahead of the seminal Congress of 2005. The decision was at odds with the sentiment of Cork public, GAA or otherwise. Now, 17 years later, Páirc Uí Chaoimh will allow South Africa and Munster to play rugby in the stadium. The owners of that showroom are a good €20 million in debt for building such a shiny new one. They will compensate the successors financially for the use of Píchlár. It is an arrangement born out of cold pragmatism from both parties.