Austin Stack Park re-location plan gets go-ahead in Kingdom vote

THE SPECIAL convention in the Brandon Hotel in Tralee last night gave the green light for the re-location of the Austin Stack Park to a new site within the confines of the old racecourse at Ballybeggan Park, Tralee.

The special EGM discussed the proposed re-location and the development of training pitches at Currans near Farranfore as part of a package hammered out by the county executive under chairman Sean Walsh and developers J J Casey, Ltd.

The vote saw 192 delegates support in favour of the move and only three voted against it and they came from the Tralee club Kerins O’Rahillys.

Speakers on the motion felt that the move was a once-off opportunity for Kerry to develop a state-of-the-art stadium at no cost to the ordinary grassroots member, despite some reservations about moving from the historical old Austin Stack Park.

No delegate spoke against the motion.

This now clears the way for work to start on the new Austin Stack Park (subject to planning) in the middle of 2008 with a completion date in 2010.

The second item on the agenda saw the Kerry County by-laws being amended to provide for the provision of a full-time secretary, assistant secretary (pro-term) and hurling officer in compliance with Rule 50 TO as amended at congress 2007.