DevelopmentLand:The Parnells GAA Club's football pitch, which is south of the airport at Collinstown Road, eventually sold for a good deal less than its original guide of over €30 million, writes Jack Fagan
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has bought a 21-acre football pitch near the planned junction of the Metro North and Metro West and also close to the extensive airport lands.
The DAA has paid almost €23 million for the Parnells GAA Club's football pitch which is south of the airport at Collinstown Road. Savills HOK had been quoting over €30 million for the land which adjoins the extremely valuable 200-acre land bank owned by the businessman Hugo Byrne which has been identified as the "site" for the Metro Park station.
IBI Corporate Finance is believed to be seeking between €250 million and €300 million for this stretch of land.
Metro West trains from Tallaght to the airport will either switch on to the planned Metro North line at the Collinstown Road "site" or passengers will transfer to the Metro North train which will take them directly to the airport itself.
Work on the Metro North line linking St Stephen's Green with Swords is due to begin in 2009.
The GAA grounds bought by the DAA, because of its "strategic location", will be used for "airport-related activities", according to a spokesman. The DAA is not apparently interested in acquiring the Metro Park lands.
The 21 acres has ST1 zoning in the development plan of Fingal County Council which has also recommended that it and adjoining land should be the subject of a local area plan to ensure that there is a co-ordinated development scheme linked into the new transport service. It is about 1.5 kms from the Ballymun interchange on the M50 where Ikea plans to open a major new store.
Unlike most city football clubs selling their grounds, Parnells will be moving closer to the city centre, having come to an agreement with St David's Christian Brothers club in Artane to share their grounds. The club plans to invest heavily in upgrading the facilities in Artane and on acquiring additional land close to their clubhouse in Coolock village.
