Future of club under threat from road route
The 107 kilometre Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway could force Tinryland GAA club on the outskirts of Carlow town to relocate its clubhouse and car park.
The club is over 116 years old and has won a club of the year award and recently hosted the World Handball Championships.
Under the road plan, Kildare County Council proposes to acquire six different pieces of land from the club, two in front of the clubhouse and four other pieces to the rear of the grounds.
One parcel of land cuts straight through its juvenile pitch.
The plan would lead to "severe safety issues" for the club, as well as casting a long-term question over the viability of the club, consulting engineer to the GAA and technical adviser to its safety council, Michael Hogan, told an An Bord Pleanála hearing yesterday.
"To the GAA, land is like blood. They can't live without it. Land is a vital necessity to this club and I would advise against any temporary solution to the problems it faces," he said.
"Whatever solution is arrived at must not create problems for the club four, five or 10 years down the line. If we have one serious safety incident as a result of this development, it could pose serious insurance problems for the club."
The road plan will sever the club from its main catchment area of Tinryland village, said club development committee chairman, Shay Byrne.
The prospect of losing a juvenile pitch would be a serious blow to the club, he said.
"To have our new facility taken away in one foul swoop by an arm of the State is a serious act of aggression against a small, rural community and an absolute travesty of natural justice," he said.
"It is also an insult to the many adult mentors who give freely of their valuable time on a voluntary basis to coach and train our young gaels," he said.
The club offered a number of possible solutions to the National Roads Authority and Kildare County Council. These include:
The club relocating to an alternative site, away from the road development, and the cost of locating to be borne by the road developers.
Redeveloping the GAA grounds and sterilising or setting aside a large pocket of land to minimise the impact of flying sliotars and to make the facility safer.
Providing an underpass to ensure safe access of pedestrians and vehicles to the club.
"I appeal to Kildare County Council and the NRA to stop their intimidation of a small, rural community and stop it now," Mr Byrne said.
An Bord Pleanála says it hopes to announce details of the exact route, taking into account submissions made by all the interested parties over the two week long oral hearing, by mid-May.
