GAA consider upgrade of New York’s Gaelic Park

THE GAA is to look into upgrading Gaelic Park in New York, through the development of an all-weather pitch and the installation of floodlighting.

However, the plan is only at the discussion stage, involving the New York Board and Manhattan College, the owners of the ground.

It follows the decision earlier in the year to develop a stadium on a greenfield site on Randall’s Island for a number of reasons; primarily cost and the fact that a 20-year agreement offered minimal security for the Association’s future needs in the city.

At the time, it was also pointed out that pitches would not always be available when they were most required on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and the on-going rental required of the GAA was ‘prohibitively high.’

The Central Council had committed $2million (€1.6m) to the scheme.

Over the weekend, GAA President Nickey Brennan and Director-General Liam Mulvihill visited New York for consultation with the various interested parties.

“We looked at a plan to upgrade Gaelic Park. We also met with various people in the city as regards the provision of some extra pitches for the GAA, because Gaelic Park may not necessarily be for the long term,’’ he said.

“We met a lot of people and Tim O’Connor, the Consul-General in New York was extremely helpful in that regard, in setting up the various contacts.’’

Mr Brennan explained that the current lease on Gaelic Park runs for over ten years and this will guarantee the availability of the facility for that period of time.

“After that, who knows? I’m not saying it won’t be available in the longer term, but it just might not be. We’re looking for another facility. Something might come out of that, but you can imagine how difficult it is to find spare land in New York.’