Kelly hopes Corbett plans for Hayes Hotel flourish

Former GAA President Seán Kelly has backed Lar Corbett’s bid to buy Hayes Hotel in Thurles after the Tipperary hurler confirmed he wants to purchase the Association’s birthplace.

Corbett, Hurler of the Year in 2010, has expressed an interest in taking over Hayes Hotel, along with business partner Kevin Coppinger and international boxing star Matthew Macklin.

And Corbett (32) has been promised full support from Kelly, one of the leading voices in the drive to save Hayes Hotel since it went into receivership last April. He revealed: “Myself and Matthew have sat down and we have expressed an interest. We’re looking to make a good go of it and we have the ideas that are going to make it work. It’s a place I know very, very well, from living in the town. We’re not here to waste anyone’s time — we want simple answers to simple questions.”

Corbett, Coppinger and Macklin viewed Hayes Hotel on Monday afternoon and could lodge a bid as early as next week.

And European MEP Kelly, speaking from Brussels, said last night: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a real GAA hero involved in it?

“It would be a great link with the past and it would make a real connection with people as well. The whole GAA community would rally around him (Corbett).

“People are waiting for this to happen and fair play to him — I admire his courage. All it needs is commitment from the Government and the GAA and it could be a roaring success, provided the planning authorities are not too restrictive with it.”

Kelly added: “The GAA could help out by giving commitments that the facility will be utilised in certain ways, by installing some offices or a little museum there. And if there is a bar or restaurant there, the GAA can ensure that it’s utilised when people come to Thurles, and help him out. The GAA is a huge network of goodwill and connections and he would be doing the whole of Ireland a favour if he goes in and preserves it for posterity.”