Waterford to discuss city, county ground sale

WATERFORD County Board executive is to consider a proposal that the county grounds in Dungarvan and Waterford be sold and a new stadium be built on a greenfield site.

Though the board has county grounds at Walsh Park and Fraher Field, their limited capacities preclude them from hosting the most attractive Munster SHC fixtures.

The Portlaw suggestion has been described as “thought-provoking’ by county board officials and club delegates.

Chairman Pat Flynn said the matter will be considered by the executive and will be discussed again at a meeting of the board.

Sources conservatively put the combined market value of the venues at 20 million, which would more than meet the cost to acquire a greenfield site.

The Portlaw proposal does not specify a location for the new stadium, but a site close to Waterford city would be the more favoured option.

However, there is certain also to be considerable opposition to any move that would bring about the demise of Walsh Park and Fraher Field. Both venues are steeped in GAA tradition, with Fraher Field the only provincial ground outside of Thurles and Killarney to have hosted an All-Ireland senior hurling final.

A long-time member of the local Dungarvan club said he could never foresee a situation whereby Fraher Field would be allowed to slide into oblivion.

“It carries too much tradition and history for that,” he said.

However, county board PRO John Jackson said the whole thing is at a preliminary stage and is a long way off any decision being taken.

“The Portlaw club has merely put it on the table for discussion and that’s as far as it goes right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Waterford board has put on hold its decision in relation to Rule 42 and the opening up of Croke Park to other sporting organisations.

The matter was to have been discussed at this week’s board meeting but on the recommendation of chairman Pat Flynn, it has been deferred for three weeks.

In the interim, clubs will be issued with full details of all the motions relating to the matter and a final decision will be taken at the April meeting.

That meeting has been brought forward one week to April 4.