Westmeath agree to purchase of land for centre of excellence

There was positive news following a meeting of Westmeath GAA’s county committee in the Mullingar Park Hotel last Thursday evening as clubs gave their support to the purchase of over 48 acres of land for a new centre of excellence. There was overwhelming support for the move.

It will give Westmeath GAA at least six grass pitches and mean that the county football and hurling teams will finally have a home of their own in which to train and develop players. Together with the current all weather facility (3G pitch) at Lakepoint Park, which is located within walking distance to the proposed development, it will give at least seven pitches to Westmeath GAA in the future.

The new home of Westmeath GAA will be located behind St Loman’s hospital in Mullingar after it was agreed to purchase the land from the Health Service Executive for what will be a phased development over the next decade or more. GAA clubs in Westmeath gave their overwhelming support to the purchase of the land at a cost of over €1m (€1,050,000).

There will be additional pre-planning costs and the entire project when complete is likely to cost in excess of €10m. While there will be government funding and support from the GAA, the 47 clubs of Westmeath will have to provide the bulk of the funding for the project, either through fundraising or an annual levy.

It’s the first step in Westmeath GAA’s efforts to put a new home (or centre of excellence) in place and in that regard it was a historic evening for the association. Members of Club Iarmhí were welcomed and acknowledged for their support with the project, as were the hurling and football committees and the minor board (Coiste na nÓg) officers.

Westmeath senior football manager Dessie Dolan welcomed the announcement that the county has committed to buying land for a centre of excellence after many years waiting.

“It’s great news that Westmeath has committed to buying almost 49 acres for a centre of excellence and it is now a possibility for the county that we get this up and running. That's a massive boost for everyone. I thought I’d have it in my lifetime as a county player, but it didn’t happen,” he said, following Sunday’s league victory over Clare at TEG Cusack Park.

“Certainly for my son, who is 11, and the girls growing up after him, it’s great to think that there is going to be a centre of excellence. It‘s really important: one thing I have noticed going around the country is we are probably a little bit behind in terms of our facilities and it‘s great that Frank (Mescall) got the job done and got the land purchased.”

There was a lengthy discussion on the planned project at Thursday’s meeting and it was learned that the county’s current home, TEG Cusack Park, will be maintained and kept for the foreseeable future.

Patrick Doherty, Westmeath’s head of operations, gave a detailed presentation on the proposed project, describing how almost 49 acres of land will provide a minimum of half a dozen playing pitches. A road will be developed to link the centre to the Delvin Road from where there will be access (emergence and/or pedestrian access). There will also be access from the link road at Robinstown, Mullingar.

“There’s a big gateway already there, an indentation in the streetscape to allow for a turn-in there, a roadway. That would have been built as part of the link road development. Access to the site will be from the link road and that roadway will be our responsibility to build and we will be granted a right of way across the HSE land to the site,” he explained.

“We have held preliminary meetings with Croke Park and everything there is very positive.”

Planning permission has yet to be secured and there is a two-year period in which to do so, but there will be room to have that extended if negotiations are continuing at that stage. There were tributes to former chairman and secretary, Billy Foley and Pat Reilly, and insurance officer Padraig Murtagh for their efforts in pursuing the purchase of the land while in office. County Committee chairman Frank Mescall thanked the people from the HSE for their assistance, describing them as three great GAA men.

FUTURE OF CUSACK PARK

There were queries on a range of issues and it was confirmed that grass pitches will be built. Shane Donoghue (Milltownpass) queried the future of TEG Cusack Park, which he described as antiquated and costly to maintain.

Frank Mescall confirmed that TEG Cusack Park is to be maintained and kept in use, comfortable for patrons and with a good playing surface, for the next 10 years at least. It could not be confirmed what will happen at that stage. The new centre of excellence will take at least 10 years to deliver.

The land is zoned sport and recreational and there is access to the current services in place. There is a restrictive covenant involved and the land will be for sport and recreational only. The chairman explained that there were other options, some cheaper, but those fell by the wayside for different reasons.

“With regard to the infrastructure that you need – sewage, road, water, all of that – it was by far the most suitable,” Mr Mescall said.

It was explained that conditions of the proposed sale changed in the last three years and some of the road frontage in the original proposal was taken back. Initially, there was no restrictive covenant and 89 acres were involved, but it was revised over time.

“I was very happy with 89 acres, but they are gone. We are now happy with 49,” said the chairman.

It was asked if Westmeath GAA has a financial backer for the project and the chairman confirmed that is not in place. “We had nothing to offer them yet, but I’m sure our hands will be open from now on,” he quipped. “If there is anybody out there, we will certainly talk to them.”

Westmeath ladies football and camogie will be kept involved. “It is a centre for all Westmeath GAA,” the chairman stressed.

He said Westmeath GAA will be looking for assistance from government, the GAA and Leader, in terms of grants, but the majority of funding will have to come through the clubs of the county, including ladies football and camogie.

“It is our plan at the minute, no levy on clubs. Can we guarantee that into the future, indefinitely? No. Because you (the clubs) might decide in the future to give €2,000 or €3,000 a year rather than fundraise,” he explained.

He said Westmeath GAA have shown in the recent past that they are capable of holding major fundraisers. “It’s a county project and you will support it. The Movathon and Quid Games were supported brilliantly,” he remarked.

Most of the queries centred around access and the roadway has yet to be priced.

The road will belong to the HSE, it was explained, but Westmeath GAA will have access 24/7. The HSE will also be using the road. The chairman assured clubs there is nothing wrong in that regard.

“Our legal people have said it is perfect,” he said. The road will be maintained by both Westmeath GAA and the HSE, the chairman confirmed, but access will always be available even if the HSE develop around the centre when it’s built.

It was asked if six pitches are enough and the chairman explained that Kerry have four pitches and Donegal will have six. He felt six pitches is really good, but there is always scope for future development.

“If the planners can put seven pitches on it, we will go with that. We will have seven with the 3G: there is also extra land for training on,” he said.

There may even be scope for adding more land in years to come.

“The area we are talking about will be a huge area of sport: the county council are developing their swimming pool down the road from us. We have Mullingar Town just across the road. Mullingar Shamrocks are developing their new facilities. We have St Oliver Plunkett’s and St Loman’s GAA close by. It will be a Mecca for sports people,” he added.

Shane Donoghue felt the current 3G pitch will need maintaining and that such facilities have a lifespan of around 10 years. He felt the committee placed too much of an emphasis on the proximity of the 3G pitch. However, while he agreed the location of the 3G pitch was a factor, the chairman said Westmeath will be faced with costs for that facility no matter where they locate a new home.

STRONG ENDORSEMENT

Colm Boland of Rosemount praised chairman Frank Mescall and the county committee for their work in securing the land, describing it as a massive deal.

Concern was raised about traffic congestion, but it was explained that Westmeath county council will be involved in that aspect of the work.

There were calls to wait for another fortnight before making a decision. However, no further information would be available in two weeks, it was explained. Sean Kenny, Tubberclair, felt those present should vote on whether to support the purchase of the land on the night, or hold off for a further two weeks.

Mr Mescall said he had waited three years for a decision and his preference was to get approval on the night. He felt there was a general consensus among the club delegates present (which included club chairpersons and secretaries) to make a decision on the night. Mr Mescall was supported by Conleth McCormack of St Oliver Plunkett’s and Aiden McGuire of The Downs. Mr McCormack pointed to a complete lack of facilities for county teams. “If clubs read (senior hurling manager) Joe Fortune’s email, they would realise the true situation,” he said.

Mr McGuire said the moment had arrived and the decision had to be made. “We have waited long enough,” he remarked, noting that the land is zoned and the deal is outstanding when that is considered.

“We would be absolutely nuts if we decided to procrastinate another bit,” he added.

Kevin Jordan, Southern Gaels, said a phased development is a good idea and felt nothing much will change in the next two weeks. Sean Sheridan, Tyrrellspass, supported that.

Mr Mescall said that appeared to be the general view of club delegates. He received a strong endorsement from club delegates by way of a show of hands.

Mark Bardon (Multyfarnham) formally proposed the purchase of the land and that was seconded by Dermot Broughan (Cullion).

Up to 90 young referees in training for U12 games

Sean Sheridan (Tyrrellspass) has returned as referees coordinator and he asked for clubs to provide two people for a foundation course in the coming weeks.

County Committee chairman Frank Mescall explained Peter Collins, Coiste na nÓg secretary, has up to 90 young people to referee games at U12 level when action gets under way. They will start their training with an online course.

Adult referees will also be needed, it was pointed out, and Mr Mescall reminded delegates that there will be sanctions for clubs who do not have referees next year.