Westmeath GAA launch plans for multi-million euro training centre

Shane King

Plans for a multi-million euro Westmeath GAA centre of excellence featuring six full-size pitches and a state-of-the-art sports complex have been launched, and a planning application is expected to be lodged within the next three weeks.

The ambitious development, which is proposed for a 48-acre site near the Delvin Road in Mullingar, was presented at a well-attended meeting with the club chairpersons and secretaries of the county’s 47 GAA clubs on Saturday morning.

Westmeath GAA is set to purchase the land from the Health Service Executive (HSE), subject to planning permission, at a cost of €1.05 million.

The project will be delivered on a phased basis and, if planning permission is secured, the County Board hope to develop the centre over a 10-year period.

The plans include six full-size floodlit pitches, one of which will have an artificial playing surface, while the proposed complex will feature eight dressing rooms, a players lounge, meeting rooms, office space, video analysis suite, gymnasium and a spectator stand.

The development is intended to serve Westmeath GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and Camogie, providing a central base for the county’s teams and underage structures.

Addressing the delegates at Saturday’s meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace said the development represented an important step in bringing the county’s facilities up to the standard required by modern inter-county sport.

"There’s no doubt it’s probably going to be best in class at this time," he said.

"Our consultants have gone around the country and outside the country to see what’s out there and what the requirements of a modern sports person are. We are now operating at elite sport level, so we have to be putting in a facility that can encourage all of these youngsters to achieve the very best."

Mr Wallace acknowledged the work undertaken by clubs across the county in developing their own facilities, as well as those who have made their grounds available to Westmeath teams in recent years.

He described the centre as potentially "every bit as big of an achievement as our successes on the field over the years", while stressing that the project would require the continued support of clubs and the wider county.

"This has to be one of the most positive news stories going to come out of our county from a GAA perspective. I would ask that everybody does their ever best to support us in that, on that road.

"This dream will become a reality, but without your help, I won’t say it would be impossible, but it would certainly be a lot more difficult… It’s a momentous day for Westmeath GAA. I happen to be standing here with us today showing case this project, so it’s an honour for me as well to do that."

The scale of the investment required will be significant, County Board secretary Keith Quinn estimating that the six pitches alone could cost in the region of €6 million at current construction prices.

"Construction is fickle at the minute in terms of inflation. It’s going to be a significant cost, obviously. The average pitch is costing between €750,000 to €1 million, so six pitches is €6 million.

"No matter what you do, you need to get in to get the pitches, first you’ve got to put a road in as well, so infrastructure like civil, foul, storm, ESB, water, all that costs money as well to go in."

Keith said the County Board intend to take the development one stage at a time, and the initial focus is on getting the site infrastructure in place before beginning work on the pitches and wider complex.

The county secretary said the aim is to have two or three grass pitches developed within the first three years, while the overall centre would be completed within the 10-year planning period.

He stressed that the project would require support from clubs, businesses and the wider Westmeath community, and further fundraising initiatives will be run in the years ahead.

"This home is not just for Westmeath GAA, it’s for the three associations, it’s for the LGFA and it’s for the Camogie. So we need every club in Westmeath, boy and girl, to support this centre.

"This is a step, a very small step on a very big journey and hopefully everybody in Westmeath will put their shoulder to the wheel now and give something for the future of the kids to be proud of."