Stadium plans in Clare hit snag

The Clare County Board are actively seeking to sell Cusack Park in order to develop a modern stadium on the outskirts of Ennis which would enable them to host major Munster championship fixtures.

However, the mayor of Ennis, Frankie Neylon, has opposed such a sale (at an estimated value of €20 million). Speaking to the Clare People newspaper, and subsequently The Irish Times yesterday, Neylon questioned whether the county board had full ownership of the ground.

"This field was used by the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) to keep their horses and when the RIC was disbanded in the early 1920s they donated the field to the people of Ennis. They are the owners," said Neylon. "It was subsequently developed by the Dalcassians club and there was a trust established to run the park. At which point did it become the county board's to sell - that's the question.

"The county board must come back to the town council if they wish to sell off the ground. My father Pat was caretaker at the park for over 20 years (1952 to '77) so I know they are merely trustees. And if you were to ask the local traders, residences and even the gardaí they would discover plenty of objections," added Neylon.

County board chairman Michael McDonagh was adamant Cusack Park belonged to the GAA. The Clare People pointed out the Dalcassians GAA club's demise in the 1940's saw "ownership" pass to the county board.

Cusack Park holds 17,000 but poor access and a lack of facilities ensures the Munster Council and the GAC look to neighbouring counties Limerick and Galway to host neutral championship fixtures. The Gaelic Grounds (capacity 49,500) and Pearse Stadium (35,000) have both been modernised in recent years.

"We are trying to find a developer who is willing to buy the ground and develop a 35,000 all-seater stadium in or around the town of Ennis that would include an indoor training centre, all-weather pitch and car parking," said McDonagh.

"We are just looking at our options at present and hope a developer in Ennis can meet this criteria. Ideally, something like what the Nemo Rangers club in Cork have developed would be our plan."

Already there have been "unofficial soundings" from local developers but the county board have yet to receive something concrete. "If nothing can be achieved in the next three months," says McDonagh, "we will have to begin phased development of Cusack Park but the capacity cannot be increased."

McDonagh ruled out a stadium being developed on the new training ground site at Caherloghan in Tulla as any project must remain within the confines of Ennis. Any new stadium would still be named after GAA founder Michael Cusack, who was born in Clare.

Meanwhile, this year's annual Congress, the last of Seán Kelly's presidency, will take place in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, on April 21st and 22nd. Former Kilkenny hurler Nicky Brennan will be ratified as the 35th president of the GAA.

Tyrone's extraordinary pulling power has prompted an appeal for fans to arrive early for Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup meeting with St Mary's at Coalisland (2pm) to avoid crowd congestion.

Last weekend's game with Down in the same competition had to be delayed after a crowd of 8,000 turned up to watch the All-Ireland champions, and a similar turnout is expected this weekend. Turnstiles will be open 90 minutes before the start of the game.

Padraic Joyce will captain Galway in the upcoming National Football League before a new skipper is appointed for the championship, it has been confirmed.

Joyce led Galway to the Connacht title last year but looks set to be replaced this year by either Michael Donnellan or Finian Hanley as their club, Salthill-Knocknacarra, get to nominate the captain as the reigning county football champions.