Kerry Group’s €1m centre backing

Kerry Group are to provide €1million in funding for Kerry GAA’s new €5.8million centre of excellence.

At a meeting of club delegates at the IT Tralee last night, chairman of the Kerry County Board Patrick O’Sullivanconfirmed the long-serving sponsors of GAA in the county are toprovide significantfinancial backing.

Darragh Ó Sé, the country’s under-21manager, said the county was “behind the times”.

“We shouldn’t be in this position. We need to create an environment where players will succeed. We don’t have that at the moment. This new development will provide that platform,” he said.

The proposed new centre of excellence is a two-fold approach involving a sports academy at IT Tralee and the development of training pitches at Currans, between Castleisland and Farranfore. The sports academy will cost €1.074million while the phased Curransdevelopment will cost €4.718million.

Thus far €3million is secure with €1million in grants from Croke Park and the Munster Council; €600,000 (€350,000 for phase one and €250,000 in phase two) raised by Cairde Chiarraí and €400,000 to be provided by Kerry GAA.

Further fundraising will come from corporate donations and international fundraising.

Addressing the meeting, chairman O’Sullivan said the plan was the culmination of “many years of planning” and lauded Kerry Group for their “continued interest and support.”

Frank Hayes, director of corporate affairs at Kerry Group, added: “The new centre of excellence will ensure Kerry GAA will continue to develop and nurture future generations of talented players.”

The sports academy will include a GAA sports science suite and all-weather floodlit pitch. These facilities will be wholly owned by Kerry GAA.

Planning permission has been granted for the sports academy. A planning application for the construction of the pitch will be lodged by the end of this year. The anticipated start date for the works is the end of 2014/start of 2015.

The 48-acre Currans project — purchased in June 2013 — will consist of a flood-lit full-sized all-weather pitches and a full-sized synthetic pitch.

*Meanwhile, the Kerry SFC final between Dr Crokes and Austin Stacks will take place in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, on Sunday, October 20 (3.30pm).