Louth TDs call for urgent funding to complete county GAA stadium

Calls for Government action on the long-awaited Louth GAA stadium were front and centre during a recent Dáil debate on investment in sport and sporting infrastructure, with local TDs pressing the Minister of State to provide the final tranche of funding needed to complete the project.

Deputies Paula Butterly, Joanna Byrne, Erin McGreehan and Ruairí Ó Murchú all made contributions, each talking about the importance of the stadium for Gaelic games and for the wider sporting community and the people of Louth.

Deputy Paula Butterly stressed the urgency of closing the funding gap for the new county ground, noting that Louth remains the only county in Ireland without a GAA stadium.

“However, there are two blips in that horizon at present. One is that Louth does not have a county GAA stadium. 

“It is a place where we can bring communities, young boys and young girls, together. They are missing a small portion after a huge amount of fundraising. I too urge the Minister of State to make up that shortfall for funding so Louth can be a county with its own GAA stadium.”

Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne pointed out that Louth GAA’s unsuccessful application in the last round of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) has been a major setback, but she praised the county’s teams for continuing to excel despite the challenges.

“Sport brings people together by creating common good, fostering teamwork and friendship and breaking down social barriers, but sport needs adequate facilities to allow greatness to thrive and hearts to shine. In the last round of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund there were 96 applications with 35 being successful.

“In last year's round of applications in my constituency Drogheda United and Louth GAA were both unsuccessful in their applications. I know first-hand the impact a setback such as this can have to development plans, morale and internal harmony. This is why it is crucial that there needs to be more investment in every one of these funding streams in next week's budget and, in particular, the LSSIF.”

Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Erin McGreehan made the point that the new stadium, while also being a GAA ground, is also a regional project with wider social and cultural benefits.

“I also have to mention the fact Louth has been waiting decades for a county stadium. The Minister of State will know this project very well. This project is not simply a GAA ground; it is a regional infrastructure that will serve schools, clubs and communities right across the north east,” she said.

“When can the people of Louth expect the support for the funding? It will be the only stadium built from scratch. The Minister of State witnessed this himself when he was there recently. Our clubs have fundraised and Croke Park supported them. 

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“We need the Government funding to get past this critical point in development. The support now would mean it would be delivered in full as opposed to in phases. We have a dream in Louth for our home football and none of us will rest until it is realised.”

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú underlined the broader value of sport while stressing the need for Louth GAA to be prioritised in the next round of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. He noted that construction on the new stadium is progressing well near his home, describing it as a vital development for the county given the recent successes of Louth teams.