The government is to allow the resumption of inter-county GAA training from April 19.
The date is a week later than had been widely expected, but a boost to the association who had been crying out for a roadmap for a return to play.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlined the country's slow road out of lockdown on Tuesday evening.
The Cabinet met on Tuesday, to discuss the latest advice from NPHET, and how it pertains to the re-opening of the country.
As they follow guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive, training in the Six Counties resumes a week earlier than the rest, on April 12.
Two key dates emerging ahead of cabinet meeting:
📆 April 12th - travel within counties and construction of houses/apartments to return
📆 April 26th - outdoor activities like golf, tennis, non-contact training for children
Ministers due to meet around now pic.twitter.com/loGSaSZKgm— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 30, 2021
Ahead of this year's Congress, the GAA said it "remains impossible to plan a revised Master Fixtures calendar for 2021" with no guidance forthcoming from the government.
The hope of the GAA at that stage had been an early-April resumption of inter-county training, with the Allianz Leagues to commence in May.
This year is the first since the implementation of the 'split-season', but it's yet to be decided whether club matches will go first, or the preferred option of inter-county.
In February, the GAA said, "The GAA have not decided on what competitions may or may not be facilitated in any revised national fixture programme for 2021.
"Such decisions will be a factor of how much time is ultimately available to us, both for an inter county season and for the broader participation levels that will be necessary for a meaningful club season at both adult and underage levels."
Underage GAA teams, along with other youth sports, will be allowed to resume non-contact training as of April 26 according to reports emanating from government buildings.
Individual outdoor, socially distanced, sports like golf and tennis are also pencilled in for an April 26 return.
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