Páirc Uí Chaoimh: Cork GAA clubs told 'discussions with Supervalu continue'

A statement released by Cork GAA said no new stadium name had been finalised as discussions continue between the two parties. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“Discussions with SuperValu continue” was the top-table line delivered to club delegates during last night’s behind-closed-doors meeting.

A statement released by Cork GAA, following 24 hours of criticism over the proposal to rename the venue SuperValu Páirc, said no new stadium name had been finalised as discussions continue between the two parties.

The Cork statement was released after naming rights had been discussed at a county board meeting where delegates told the executive an acceptable rebranding compromise would be SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“While no matter had been finalised prior to the meeting of delegates to the county board last night, both sides have been conscious of the public debate that followed recent speculation in the media,” the Cork statement continued.

“SuperValu and Cork GAA remain committed to continuing their engagement, as both parties share a common interest in supporting Gaelic games across the county, and discussions are continuing.”

St Nick’s delegate Jerry Howe said the sequence of events whereby it was announced last Friday that the executive had decided to remove media presence from the monthly county board meeting, followed by Monday’s leaked news Páirc Uí Chaoimh would be renamed SuperValu Páirc, “looks terrible”.

Howe, who attended last night’s behind-closed-doors meeting, was highly critical of how the naming rights deal had been handled and communicated by the executive.

The Cork GAA County Board meeting in progress behind 'closed doors' at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture Larry Cummins.

“This is a badly needed €1m, so I don’t have an issue with the stadium being renamed, but the way the whole thing is after being handled is an absolute debacle,” said Howe.

“The printing of the statement saying no further press presence at county board meetings within a couple of days of this (leaked) announcement… the sequence of events looks terrible.”

Delegates at the meeting said an “acceptable compromise” would be for the stadium to be called SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

There was understanding among a portion of delegates that Cork’s unhealthy financial position meant a naming rights deal was necessary, but that understanding waned considerably when it came to the complete removal of Padraig Ó Caoimh from the stadium name.

Youghal’s Liam Ó Laochdha and Douglas’ Der O’Regan, while acknowledging the mountain of debt facing Cork GAA and the consequent need to utilise all available revenue streams, wanted a compromise of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh over the proposed SuperValu Páirc.

O’Regan added that if there was no budging on SuperValu Páirc, he would like to see the South Stand renamed O’Keeffe Stand.

“We need everything we can get,” O’Regan said of Cork’s finances.

“SuperValu are fantastic supporters of the GAA. They are our sponsors in Douglas GAA, and very good sponsors at that. We have a good relationship with SuperValu.

"It would be great to keep Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the name. If that is not possible, a suggestion would be to call the main stand O’Keeffe Stand. There is no name on it at the moment.”

Other delegates were surprised by the exasperated reaction to the proposed change in stadium name given naming rights and attempts to strike a naming rights deal had been mentioned at the monthly meeting on a number of occasions in recent years.

Earlier in the day, Nemo Rangers vice-chairman and Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Martin — brother of Tánaiste Micheál Martin — accused Cork GAA of sacrificing the county’s “tradition, heritage, and history” for a commercial deal that will make little inroads into the Páirc Uí Chaoimh debt.

Pádraig Ó Caoimh — the man whom the stadium is named after — is a founding member of Nemo Rangers GAA club.

Pádraig Ó Caoimh

Councillor Seán Martin, who served as Nemo chair in recent years, said there is disappointment within the club at the proposal to remove the name of a historical figure who played such a role in building the GAA both locally and nationally.

“You are sacrificing our tradition, our heritage, and our history,” he said.

“There is a need for us not to forget where we came from and why there was a need for GAA. This goes against that.

“Within Nemo, there is strong respect for history and tradition and what he gave us. There is disappointment at this decision.”

He remarked that the county board executive has given up the name of the stadium for a reported €1m figure that will put only a tiny dent in the millions of euro they owe.

“This deal is not going to destroy the debt or put a big hole in it.

“The €30m debt is a bigger issue altogether.

“Changing the name for three years to SuperValu, and no disrespect to SuperValu because they are excellent sponsors of the GAA locally in Douglas and ourselves in Nemo, but there needs to be a bigger business plan in place.

“Are we going to change the name of Croke Park? Where does it stop?

“Changing the name of Musgrave Park didn’t work. And I don’t think people will call Páirc Uí Chaoimh anything other than Páirc Uí Chaoimh either.”

CORK SPORT

A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.