Westmeath GAA: can a rising tide lift all boats?
Letter to the editor
Editor,
Through the medium of the Westmeath Examiner, I wish to record my appreciation for the joy that has been experienced by Westmeath GAA supporters over the Last couple of months.
Can the Westmeath County Board take inspiration from the current levels of positivity within the county? Our senior football team achieved many new milestones. This year was the first time they won four Leinster championship matches in a row, including the Leinster final. They achieved victories over three of the traditionally strong counties: Meath, Kildare and Dublin.
It was also a milestone year for local GAA supporters: 65% of patrons at the Leinster final were from Westmeath. A Westmeath teenage group created a new ‘cult’ and took over top section of Hill 16. Pearse Stadium in Salthill was sold out due to the volume of the travelling maroon hoard. At St Tiernach’s Park in Clones, the Westmeath followers were also in the majority.
There is now a bond and a respect linking the players, the management team and the Westmeath supporters. The respect has been engendered from the understanding of the sacrifices made by a small panel of men in order to bring honour to their county.
It is important to put on the record some pointers on where the GAA stand at present and what the future might hold.
There are 22 elected members on the Westmeath County Board plus an operations manager. In 2022, the executive launched a five-year plan, a document that was positive, well researched and well presented.
In a foreword to the plan, then cathaoirleach Proisius O Meiscill wrote the following: ‘As a county we have to admit our county grounds and training facilities for our county teams fall short of what is required now, not to mention the future.’ That was a candid summation of the position in Westmeath in 2022: what has changed or progressed since?
In the 2022 strategic plan under objectives, it states: ‘Ensure TEG Cusack Park meets the required standard of modern stadia.’ Cusack Park does not meet the required standards and it has now become an embarrassment. Patrons visiting from other counties are shocked when they encounter the lack of modernity.
What should be standard adhered to? Hyde Park, Roscommon, more than fulfills the criteria. (Roscommon population 70,259). Offaly have the O’Connor Park which has been redeveloped and upgraded a number of times. (Offaly population 83,150).
Westmeath is a wealthy county (population 96,000+). Mullingar, population 23,900, is the largest midland town, positioned between Loughs Owel and Ennell, and has a good railway connection. Athlone, population 22,869, is a gateway town, and has the TUS on Leinster side.
Regarding Pairc Ciaran, Athlone, here is a piece of serendipity from the 1960s: the Hogan Cup final between St Jarlath’s and St Finian’s was hosted on the Athlone pitch. The attendance was estimated at 11,000+. So, perhaps in liaison with Athlone GAA, Páirc Chiarán might be developed as the county grounds?
Cusack Park, Mullingar needs to have a spectator capacity of 18-20,000. The location of the ground is excellent, as it is within easy walking distance of the town centre. At the recent sellout Westmeath vs Cavan game, it has been calculated that the nett earnings across all commercial enterprises was at least €640,000 that weekend.
Up until the 1950s, Mullingar had one of the best National Hunt racecourses in Ireland. Ownership of the course was vested largely in the business community in town, through a trust.
The governing body in charge of racecourse safety and standards stipulated that investment was needed; the racecourse board could not agree on a way forward and Westmeath lost a racecourse.
Louth GAA are at present on a positive renewal trajectory. There seams to be a coordinated plan to bring modernity to the organisation. They have a strong academy designed to feed a stream of quality players who can progress through the age grades. A new stadium will allow Louth to host games in the county.
Louth are successfully harnessing the success of their senior team and the goodwill of businesses in the county. Four weeks ago, a group of business supporters organised a fundraising banquet – 430 tables were sold at a price €1,000 for a table of 10. The venue was given free and the food was sponsored. The amount of €430,000 was given to a players training fund.
The amended Gaelic football regulations have brought a renaissance to the game. Young people follow it’ there are new local heroes. The youth can now express their skills and see themselves as part of a new departure.
Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar created a milestone in a breakout year and won the Hogan Cup, and two Westmeath colleges contested the Leinster final so Marist College Athlone played their part in creating history.
The question at the begining of this letter was: can a rising tide lift all boats? Well, one could conclude that opportunities have been missed; the boat is holed, but can be repaired.
Many Westmeath supporters recall the first Leinster final victory in 2004; despite the hype then, opportunities to build the future were not pursued. The positive circumstances that now pertain in County Westmeath should be harnessed and exploited.
Yours sincerely, Enda O’Rourke, Westmeath GAA supporter