Inter-county football and hurling have been allowed to continue under the new Level 5 ockdown.
And the Cabinet has also cleared the way for the rugby Six Nations and other elite professional sports events to keep going.
The reprieve for the GAA was pushed for by a number of ministers at this afternoon’s crucial Cabinet meeting.
Under the Living with Covid roadmap the order for sport is ‘No Events’ but an exception has been made for the national game and other fixtures under “very controlled” conditions.
This means that we should still see All Ireland finals in hurling and football before Christmas - and the conclusion of the Six Nations rugby set of games.
A senior Government source said the drive to keep sport alive was being done for “the spirit of the nation.”
