Banner bosses set ball rolling for sale of Cusack Park

CLARE GAA chiefs will discuss proposals for the sale of their county grounds, Cusack Park in Ennis, on Tuesday night.

A specialised committee was formed to deal with interested developers and their findings will be released to clubs at the next monthly meeting.

PRO Des Crowe expects a swift decision to be made by the clubs regarding the future of the facility in the centre of the town.

And he admitted the controversy after their Munster SHC game with Cork has also delayed the discussions.

Explained Crowe: “We hoped to inform clubs at the last county board meeting but with all the goings on in the county, it was decided to defer it.

“The specialised committee set up to deal with the job have their work more or less finished and it is proposed to present a detailed report to the clubs at our next county board meeting on Tuesday, June 13.

“The first step will be for the chairman to outline to the county board what the plans are.

“It will be up to the clubs to go away and digest it and come back and make a final decision.

“It’s envisaged that whatever decision is made, it will be made within the next month or so.

“The committee had hoped to present their proposals a month ago but with all the side shows we have in Clare at the moment, we are getting nothing done.

“It’s expected that there will be some concrete proposals put before the members at next week’s board meeting. Provided they are favourable to all concerned, I would expect to see some movement on them within the next month.”

Munster neighbours, Kerry, last month confirmed that a new state-of-the-art stadium is being planned to replace Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

However Leinster Council chairman, and GAA presidential candidate Liam O’Neill, expressed his concern at GAA clubs and county boards selling out in return for out-of-town sites.

“Some of those offers are genuinely good and will be of benefit to us in the long-term but I am worried that some of the deals may not be in our best interests. I am slow to approve of leaving prime positions in our towns and villages and moving further out simply for better facilities."