Kerry unveil plans for GAA 'centre of excellence'
The Kerry County Board have revealed their plans to build a GAA Centre of Excellence and associated facilities, with sponsors Kerry Group contributing €1 million to the project.
The Kingdom, winners of a record 36 All-Ireland SFC titles, want to keep themselves at the top of the football tree and fresh from installing Jack O'Connor as their new minor manager, the establishment of this new centre could play a vital role in annexing more silverware for Kerry teams in the future.
In line with the 'Kerry GAA 2020 Vision Programme', the planned new development comprises two distinct but complementary centres - the Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence, IT Tralee, and associated Kerry GAA training facilities in Currans, County Kerry.
The new state-of-the-art facilities will be established on a phased basis to 'provide essential training and development programmes for all Kerry inter-county GAA teams and development squads'.
Kerry Group will contribute €1 million to the Centre of Excellence project which is budgeted to cost €5.8 million in total over two phases of the development programme.
Speaking at a specially convened Kerry County Board meeting, Frank Hayes, Kerry Group's Director of Corporate Affairs. Said: "The Group's financial contribution to this worthwhile community project is additional to our annual corporate sponsorship of all Kerry inter-county GAA teams.
"It is important to all our stakeholders that Kerry's success in Gaelic Games continues to flourish into the future.
"The new Centre of Excellence will ensure that Kerry GAA will continue to develop and nurture future generations of talented players who will maintain the proud sporting tradition at club, county and national level."
Patrick O'Sullivan, the Kerry County Board Chairman, thanked Kerry Group for their 'very generous contribution' and remarked: "After the Kerry v Dublin All-Ireland SFC semi-final on September 1 this year Frank Hayes commented to me that even though Kerry had lost the game he was proud to have been present to witness a game of such outstanding quality.
"This quality and high standard could not have been achieved without the continued support of Kerry Group.
"To date, Kerry Group have been involved in the All-Ireland senior football successes as well as Under-21, minor and junior football successes along with the successes of the senior hurlers in the Christy Ring Cup, National League and the Munster Championship and also with our Under-21 and minor hurling teams. This high standard of achievement would not be possible without the support of Kerry Group."
O'Sullivan confirmed that the purchase of the lands at Currans - 48 acres in total - has been concluded and that the trustees of the Kerry County Board are now the official owners.
Kerry GAA development officer Tim Murphy heads up the committee put in place to oversee the successful delivery of the centre. The first phase of work on the site, including the archaeological and enabling works, is due to be completed by the end of next year.
The construction of two fully-lit, sand carpet all-weather pitches and a clubhouse serving the development, will commence in mid-2014, and the remaining works will be completed on a phased basis as finances allow.
O'Sullivan, who says the centre 'will provide us with a much-needed training base especially during the winter months', also informed the meeting that a recent fundraising trip to New York raised $220,000 dollars which will be ring-fenced for the centre's development.
