Sale of land to GAA ‘should benefit entire city’

THE Cork Business Association (CBA) has called on city leaders to ensure that 13 acres of land near Páirc Uí Chaoimh would benefit the entire city if it were sold to the GAA.

“There is a wonderful opportunity now for the GAA and city council to work together with the backing of the people of Cork,” CBA chief executive Donal Healy said.

Mr Gavin told city councillors it would not be in the public interest to sell the full amount of land at the Showgrounds that is sought by the GAA.

He instead sought councillors’ support for the disposal of two smaller sections of land to help with crowd circulation around the stadium.

The council deferred a decision and talks are expected to take place in the coming weeks in an attempt to arrive at a solution.

The Cork County GAA Board has requested that the city council dispose to them almost 13 acres of land at the Showgrounds which surround the stadium and which was acquired by Compulsory Purchase Order.

The GAA wants the land to refurbish and enlarge the stadium, develop a 308- space surface car park, provide new meeting and function rooms and provide a second playing pitch and warm-up area.

But Mr Gavin said while the city supports the need to upgrade and modernise the stadium, there are difficulties around disposing of this amount of land to the GAA.

A report from the head of the city’s Docklands Directorate said the sale of the full 13 acres would not be in the interest of protecting public assets and that the land was needed to provide park space in the docklands.

But the CBA said the sale could spark development in the docklands and it supports the GAA’s plans to upgrade the stadium.

“It is a very valuable asset within 20 minutes’ walk of the city centre and its sale must benefit the business and urban territory,” Mr Healy said.

Talks between city and GAA officials are expected to result in a report by June.

Mr Healy said: “Assurances and guarantees must be attained to ensure the all-year round commitment from the GAA to open up the new development for concerts, conferences with park and ride facilities etc to benefit the city.”