Tipp chairman supports calls to purchase Hayes Hotel

TIPPERARY chairman Barry O’Brien has backed calls for the GAA to purchase and develop Hayes Hotel in Thurles, the birthplace of the Association.

O’Brien believes that Croke Park, the Munster Council and the Tipperary county board should combine to transform the landmark building into an administrative and commercial GAA centre.

Former GAA President Seán Kelly has already called on the Association to approach the owners of Hayes Hotel about a possible sale.

Kelly insisted, in his Irish Examiner column, that the Tipperary county board should sell their current home in Thurles – Lár Na Páirce – and move into Hayes Hotel for administrative purposes. And the Kerry native suggested that a revamped Hayes Hotel should also serve as headquarters for the Munster Council.

Kelly said Croke Park should splash out to secure the premises but O’Brien believes that a three-pronged approach would work better.

O’Brien said: “As chairman of the Tipperary county board, I read Seán Kelly’s statement and it makes eminent sense.

“It’s something that the Tipp county board, Munster Council and Croke Park should get together on. The history involved in Thurles and Hayes Hotel is certainly worth preserving and any steps which assist in that should be considered.”

Lár Na Páirce currently houses a GAA museum which could also be moved to Hayes Hotel and then developed on a par with Croke Park’s equivalent.

O’Brien added: “If the three bodies want to sit down and talk to the Tipp county board, we would have no problem with that. It’s something that should be driven by Croke Park because this is not just a Tipperary thing; it’s a national issue and needs to be preserved as part of our future. That preservation should be driven by Croke Park but the Tipp county board and Munster Council will assist in that.

“Tipperary GAA will be open to discuss this with anyone. We wouldn’t put our own interest in the way of a development which would be of assistance to the GAA nationally.”