Sligo forging on with €3.2m centre

SLIGO GAA is to plough ahead with plans to build a €3.2 million centre of excellence but may now develop it in stages due to the economic downturn.

A 22-acre site at Scarden on the outskirts of Sligo town has already been purchased, and Sligo County Board are in discussions with Croke Park to see what funding will be made available.

“We have formulated a detailed business plan and we have received some money from Croke Park, but we are still in negotiations to get the best grant possible,” said Sligo County Board treasurer, Peadar Niland.

Significant funding will need to be sourced inside the county. “It is crucially important for clubs to undertake fundraising and if we cannot the centre will come to a halt,” said Niland.

Planning has already been secured for the site on Strandhill Road, which is hoped, will be operational by 2013.

The county’s hurling and football teams will be based at the centre, which will consist of three full-size floodlit pitches and linked services.