Strong opposition to GAA hotel near Croker

GAA plans for a new €28m hotel near Croke Park have attracted a large number of objections from local residents.

The planning authorities must decide by July 25 whether to grant permission to start work on the proposed 232-bedroom hotel, in a development which also includes parking for 180 cars.

Senior planner Rory Deegan revealed that his department had received “quite a number” of objections and he has said that he will fully take on board the concerns of residents before making a final decision on the GAA’s plans.

The majority of the objections relate to the threat of increased traffic, noise pollution from construction work, the likelihood of overshadowing by the hotel and the expected loss of water pressure during construction.

While the majority of councillors were in favour of the project because of the economic benefits it would bring to the area, there were reservations expressed about certain aspects of the design.

A planned footbridge from the hotel directly into Croke Park was criticised on the grounds that it would increase the feeling among locals that everything was rising up all around them.

Meanwhile, Down manager Paddy O’Rourke has made two changes and some positional switches to his team to face Tyrone in the Ulster SFC final.

Corner-back Brendan Grant is struggling with a shoulder injury and is unfit to play, while wing-forward Colm McCrickard doesn’t make the starting 15.

Aidan O’Prey comes in for Grant but will play at centre half-back, with Alan Molloy moving to left half-back and Martin Cole shifting to Grant’s vacant corner.

Ronan Sexton replaces McCrickard but will play in right corner-forward, with Michael Walsh moving to centre half-forward and Brendan Coulter playing in McCrickard’s left half-forward role.

Down (SFC v Tyrone): M. McVeigh, J. Clarke, B. Burns, M. Cole, J. Lavery, A. O'Prey, A. Molloy, S. Ward, G. McCartan, L. Doyle, M. Walsh, B. Coulter, R. Sexton, D. Gordon, R. Murtagh.