O’Callaghan close to netting Cork Con deal

DEVELOPER Owen O’Callaghan is the closest of rival bidders to acquiring Cork Constitution’s grounds.

The relocation deal could net the club up to €30 million and top-notch replacement facilities.

Discussions have advanced considerably between O’Callaghan Properties and the club in the past week and a deal may be imminent, sources say.

City manager Joe Gavin last month came out very firmly on the club’s sale plan, saying the sporting lands would not be re-zoned for development and must be kept for sport or amenity purposes.

For any development to have a chance of succeeding at Temple Hill, there would have to be some sort of community/public gain and amenity offering.

Con’s land adjoins a corner site owned by Eircom, and the city council has confirmed plans to transform the five-acre Beaumont Quarry — which is just across the road — into a public park.

The rugby club, which is one of the most successful in the country, is in need of more space and practice pitches. They approached a number of developers last year with a view to selling their lands at Temple Hill.

The 12 acres are most likely to be developed for residential use if re-zoning can be achieved.

Cork Con was this week close to securing its hoped-for replacement lands at Ballyorban/Moneygourney, for up to seven new pitches and a sports pavilion.

Meanwhile, members of Douglas Golf Club are to vote at an EGM on Wednesday next, March 21, on whether or not they will accept a proposal from Castlelands Construction to sell their existing course for redevelopment, in return for a cash windfall and improved replacement facilities closer to Carrigaline.