Kelly pays tribute to Nemo achievements

THE importance of social facilities for the general community being included in GAA club developments was emphasised by the association’s president Sean Kelly yesterday in Cork.

He was performing the official opening of Nemo Rangers’ multi-million euro complex.

In this regard, he said, as well as in the primary area of superb playing facilities, Nemo had set a headline for the rest of the country and could be justifiably proud of their achievement.

Mr Kelly said the club had produced household names who were mentioned wherever Gaelic football was discussed and he complimented them on the provision of an indoor hurling arena. Pointing out that the association owned property worth an estimated e3 billion, the Nemo development was one which could be compared to any sporting arena world-wide.

Trade, Industry and Employment Minister Micheál Martin, a life-long member of the club, said Nemo ‘had always set themselves goals’ and he looked forward to a hurling county championship being annexed in the years to come. The club had remained successful because they had moved with the times and were ‘leading’ change.

In this context, he said it was appropriate that Sean Kelly should be the one to open the complex because he had been so forward-looking in his presidency and would leave ‘an outstanding legacy’ to the association.

Club chairman Leonard Buckley described it as the biggest day in the history of the club - set up in 1922 following the amalgamation of Nemo and Rangers which had been separate units.

Agreeing that it had been a bold move to transfer from their original headquarters, he paid special tribute to the six trustees who had boldly supported its purchase 30 years ago for £150,000 - at a time when a semi-detached house in the area could be bought for £4,000.

Their courage had spawned the current development and the club would forever be indebted to them, he added.

County Board chairman Jim Forbes said that the provision of such a magnificent complex was appropriate for a club which had made such a huge contribution to Gaelic games.