GAA site in €19m sale

PORTLAOISE GAA club has been given the green light by Croke Park to proceed with the €19 million sale of its grounds next to O’Moore Park.

There was one minor issue relating to access, but that was dealt with to the satisfaction of all parties at a meeting last Friday in which Laois native and Leinster Council secretary Liam O’Neill played a large role.

Club secretary Peter O’Neill also confirmed that planning permission for their new 54-acre site in Ballymacken was lodged yesterday, which will be followed by a five-week period for possible objections.

However, Portlaoise are confident that the process will run smoothly, thus allowing work on their new state-of-the-art facility to proceed in the near future.

“We have met with almost all of the neighbours and we have had a very good response,” said Mr O’Neill.