Widespread welcome for positive news on Louth GAA stadium

“Great for Louth GAA and great for the county as a whole”. Senator Erin McGreehan was echoing the sentiments of many when she described the news that the building of the new county grounds on Dundalk’s inner-relief road is set to go ahead.

At a special meeting of club representatives, County Board officials and members of the committee set up late last year to oversee the project, it was disclosed that plans are in place to begin work, perhaps by the end of the year.

The attendance at Darver last Wednesday evening, which included the Croke Park delegation on the project committee, headed by former GAA President, John Horan, was told by County Board chairman, Seán McClean, who also sits of the project committee, that work will be done in two phases

The first will include the building of a stand, the laying of the pitch, and the installation of lights. When this work is completed, games can take place.

“I was delighted when I heard the news,” said Sen McGreehan. “Myself and my family rarely miss a Louth game. But it was brought home to me when I had to travel to Inniskeen for the championship match with Monaghan, how much a local top-class stadium was needed.

“This was meant to be a home game for Louth, but with no suitable venue available we had to travel. And it’s been the same for other big games. Now we can forward to being really at home. I was delighted to hear that the government is to meet part of the cost.”

Sen McGreehan revealed she had facilitated a number of meetings of County Board officials and Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne. At them, the possibility of Louth applying for grants through the government Large Scale Infrastrucural Sports Fund (LSSIF) was raised. If an application was made, she would give it her full backing, she added.

It’s estimated that the total cost will come to around €23 million. The IIP money, €14.8 million, less agency costs, will form a major part of the funding, while government, Croke Park and Leinster GAA Council grants will also help defray the cost.

Louth County Board’s contribution will come in at around €5.5 million, part of which will be financed by clubs.

The stadium when finished won’t vary in any substantial way from what appeared in plans soon after John Horan, then President of the Association, cut the first sod in 2019. And, as was said then, the capacity is to be set at 14,000.

Seán McClean said at last week’s meeting that while it will be first and foremost for GAA games activity, should an application for its use come in from soccer, rugby or concert promoters, it will be given consideration.