This article is from page 83 of the 2007-12-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
CLARE GAA will be plunged into debt unless it goes with the county board proposal to sell Cusack Park and develop a new stadium out of its financial windfall of €66.4 million.
That was the stark scenario placed before delegates to Thursday’s meet- ing of club delegates in the Wood- stock Hotel.
“Refusing this would mean we have to redevelop the existing Cusack
Park, and that would means incur- ring serious debt,’ chairman Michael McDonagh told the county board gathering.
Niall Fitzgerald of Horgan Lynch Civil and Structural Engineers ham- mered home this point when address- ing delegates on the new Cusack Park proposal.
“Four or five years ago we were asked to put together a proposal for the redevelopment of the existing stand at Cusack Park,” Fitzgerald re-
vealed.
“The costing was €5 to €6 million for the stand and an administration building. That’s €5 to €6 million on a stand that would only accommo- date 3,000 people. Given how build- ing costs have gone in the meantime that would be around €10 million now.
“And, you can appreciate that there are other parts of the ground that need to be redveloped. The terrace on the far side and other works.”
Under the county board proposal for the Quin Road site, there would be €66.4 million to build a new Cu- sack Park, two training fields and carparking for over 1000 cars.
“The 32-acre site will be fully serv- iced to foundation level,’ revealed Michael Curtin of the Cusack Park Committee.
“This land is already commercially zoned and any special contribu- tions in relation to the site will be the responsibility of the consortium.
Planning applications and fire certi- fication fees and costs will also be covered by the consortium.
“The GAA will initially negoti- ate the construction contract with Michael McNamara and Co, but is free to take another course of action while we will also get a non-refund- able deposit of €650,000 to cover le- gal and professional fees. If clubs of Clare agree to this deal, the approval of Croke Park will be required,” add- ed Mr Curtin.