Club fears motorway will destroy facilities

AROUND €16 million has been spent developing one of the finest GAA facilities in the country, but those behind that project are worried they could end up playing beach volleyball instead of hurling if engineering works on the proposed €800 million Cork-Limerick motorway are not undertaken properly.

Members of Mallow GAA Club met yesterday with executives from the National Roads Authority (NRA) to discuss their concerns about the planned 80km motorway.

Club chairman Bartley Galvin said they were fortunate to have a major well at the facility that provides the club with all the water it requires, be it in the club bar, changing rooms for showers or for watering five sand-based pitches.

“The whole complex is run off that water well system and if that disappeared, it would be catastrophic for the club,” Mr Galvin said.

He said the club had 1,200 members and it had taken years of hard work to build the state-of-the-art facilities.

Club development officer Pat Shine said there were serious concerns about the future of the well if it was damaged during nearby drainage and earthworks which will be required during construction of the motorway.

“The proposed new road will be 28ft under the club. We’re concerned that we could be drained dry and end up with pitches only suitable for beach volleyball.

“We’re worried that, in future years, our club could literally be left high and dry,” Mr Shine said.

He said the club wasn’t against the development of the new motorway but wanted strict assurances it wouldn’t be damaged by the new road.

The motorway will run right outside the club’s lands and its officers are also seeking assurances that proper access roads will be put in place to serve the club, especially from a proposed new roundabout at Oliver’s Cross, which links the main Fermoy and Mitchelstown roads with Mallow.

“We also have a one-mile amenity walk and jogging area around our complex which is extensively used by our club members and the people of Mallow town. We will need assurances that this will be adequately protected by landscaping and soundproofing measures.”