Proposed €12 million Castlebar sports hub not a panacea for Mayo GAA - Dillon

FORMER Mayo footballer Alan Dillon has said a proposed €12 million sports hub will not be ‘the panacea’ for Mayo GAA’s demand for facilities.

The Mayo TD and Minister of State said Mayo GAA should proceed with the development of new pitches at Mulvey Park in Castlebar, despite describing the proposed sports hub as ‘a game changer.’

Mayo County Council has submitted an application under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to develop sports facilities at a council-owned site at Knockaphunta, close to the Mayo Hospice near Lough Lannagh.

The proposed development includes a multi-lane international standard running track, multi-sport playing fields with new 4G synthetic grass for GAA, soccer, and rugby, all equipped with floodlights.

The site had previously been earmarked for development under Phase 2 of the development of the new swimming pool at Lough Lannagh during Enda Kenny’s term as Taoiseach.

Mayo GAA had explored the idea of developing a centre of excellence at a different 27-acre site close to Lough Lannagh, initially under the chairmanship of Mike Connelly.

Following consultation with clubs, the project was shelved in 2021 due to concerns about drainage and potential encroachment on a protected habitat.

Speaking to The Mayo News, Minister Dillon said that Mayo GAA should not pause the proposed development of new facilities at Mulvey Park even if funding for the sports hub is approved.

“It’s a better use of their resources to have one facility with everything included. This will be a playing pitch in isolation,” Minister Dillon said.

“They can have use of it when they need to use it, but I think Mayo GAA themselves, strategically, need to focus on how they can expand their own footprint in MacHale Park. I think that’s really important what they need to do there, or else look for a green field site themselves. The cost, then, associated with that is enormous. I wouldn’t see this as being the panacea for them. They themselves need grass pitches, this is one astroturf pitch.”

Minister Dillon said that ‘a substantial amount of work’ had gone into the project in the previous six weeks.’

The two-time All-Star footballer said ‘numerous meetings’ have taken place with local sports clubs and governing bodies, including Mayo GAA, the Mayo Football League, the IRFU, including a stakeholder engagement meeting which was attended by approximately 40 people.

If developed, the facility would be run under the auspices of Mayo County Council.

May’s meeting of Mayo GAA county board was told that a cost analysis for the development of a centre of excellence that would establish three pitches - including a 4G surface - a ball-wall, and a six-lane running track at Mulvey Park, has been requested.

Mayo GAA has been in negotiation with Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo County Council and the OPW over the project.

Fundraising for the facility will not start until agreement has been reached with all the relevant stakeholders. A draft plan for the facility is also to be presented to county board delegates.

Mayo GAA Secretary Ronan Kirrane told The Mayo News that Mayo would need ‘a lot more facilities going forward’, even with the potential access to a new synthetic pitch in Castlebar.

“With integration coming down the line in 2027 we have to look at furthering our facilities. That is going to involve Mulvey Park and also look at possibly a greenfield site to cater for men’s and ladies, hurling and camogie,” said Kirrane.

“There is going to be a huge pinch on facilities and that’s where, not just in Mayo, but right across the country, every county is talking about the need for more facilities and anything we can do to get more facilities, that’s what we’ll be trying to do. Whether that’s through our own funding or through support for government funding or thorough support from government, whatever we can do to increase playing facilities for our players.”

The Davitts clubman said it is unlikely that any update on the Mulvey Park project will be presented at the next county board meeting, which is due to take place on July 24.