Dublin GAA seek planning permission for second centre of excellence

PLANNING PERMISSION: Notice of the planning permission to South Dublin County Council has been erected on the front of the site. Pic: George Tewkesbury/Sportsfile

Dublin GAA are seeking planning permission for a second centre of excellence.

Six years after purchasing the 35-acre Spawell complex beside Faughs and St Jude’s GAA clubs in Templeogue in the southwest of the capital for €9 million, the county board have put in an application for three playing pitches and a 10-dressing room pavilion on the site close to the M50.

Notice of the planning permission to South Dublin County Council has been erected on the front of the site, where the county board also hope to build a fourth pitch that like the other three will be floodlit. 

Two of the surfaces are to be sand-based and another an all-weather version.

A 500-seater capacity covered stand is in the plans for their main pitch along with terracing for an additional 500, a separate indoor training facility including a 20 metre by 30m pitch as well as a walking trail of just over 1 kilometre within the perimeter of the complex. 

There will also be parking for 112 cars.

Last November, Dublin GAA were granted planning permission for a centre of excellence in Hollystown in west Dublin. 

Similar to what they are seeking in Spawell, the board received a 10-year permit to build four floodlit pitches, three of which will be sand-based and one all-weather playing surface.

In November 2020, Dublin GAA confirmed they had acquired 23 acres of land from Glenveagh Homes in Hollystown “to be used as a training and playing facility for all Dublin teams and by Tyrrelstown GAA Club. The facilities will also be made available to the local community and schools.” 

The Spawell complex, where former European Tour pro Peter Lawrie currently runs a golf academy, has a storied sports history having hosted several golf star clinics and snooker exhibitions in the 1980s and ’90s. 

As a bar and sports complex, it sponsored a number of golf professionals such as Paul McGinley and Jimmy Heggarty. It is also close to the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght Stadium and Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA club.

The GAA also own almost 26 acres of land beside Rathcoole Park close to Commercials Hurling Club and St Mary’s in Saggart off the N7. 

The land was given to the GAA by the South Dublin County Council in 1996 but a local newspaper report earlier this year highlighted the association have yet to register the site, which is largely woodland.