Councillors asked to reconsider Musgrave Park vote

MUNSTER Branch officials hope Cork City Council reconsider a decision to vote against the rezoning of lands inside Musgrave Park, the sale of which was to assist in the redevelopment of a new stadium.

Funding for the Musgrave Park redevelopment hit a road-block last week when a majority of City Councillors voted against the rezoning of 2.7 acres of waste/non-amenity land on the Kinsale Road side of Musgrave Park.

The chamber is afforded another chance to revisit that vote at tonight’s sitting at City Hall.

The Branch had hoped the sale of this site would partly fund the e30 million redevelopment of Musgrave Park which they hope to turn into a municipal-style 18,000 capacity stadium.

The Chairman of the Musgrave Park Development Committee, Niall O’Driscoll, said an 18,000 capacity stadium is essential if Cork is to keep attracting future marquee Magners League fixtures and at least one Heineken Cup game per season.

“The minutes will be signed off on Monday night,” said Mr O’Driscoll. “The City Manager, for example, is very supportive. He sees we want a small zoning to retain and to enhance what we have in Musgrave Park.

“We’re giving the councillors a second chance. What we want is to allow this rezoning go on public display. By cutting it short last Monday night it stopped the (rezoning) plans from going on public display even though it was fully recommended by the City Manager.

“I would be fully in support of councillors of not zoning amenities/sports grounds in the city. What we’re looking for is to zone just 2.7 acres of our place that is not currently being played on. We want to enhance and retain our facility within Musgrave Park, we’re not moving anywhere.”

He added: “To lose a sporting facility like Musgrave Park would be a horrendous decision by the councillors and to the city of Cork.”

Regardless of the decision at tonight’s meeting, the Branch will press ahead with their plans and seek permission to build their new stadium.

Permission has been already granted by An Bord Pleanala to knock the existing stand and build a new facility, but the Munster Branch have furthered their ambition by planning to extend Musgrave Park’s capacity from their original plan for a 12,500 facility to a 18,000 modern complex.

“We obviously won’t be putting in plans for the rezoning should it be voted against again,” said Mr O’Driscoll who hopes to submit the plans in four weeks.

“It’s not going to be easy to fund an 18,000 capacity stadium anyway — we’re talking about e25-30 million development. But we’re going to apply for our planning permission, we’re going to get the Chamber of Commerce to support it and I don’t think there won’t be any difficulty from anybody to support it outside of the council.”

He added that it’s vital that Cork has a stadium to host at least five Magners League games and one Heineken Cup per season as well as major soccer matches. He also said the local economy would benefit from this project.

“With the capacity at 7,500 at the moment, all Magners League games could go to Thomond, which can hold 26,000. The Munster Rugby finance committee could say in the future that Cork doesn’t justify keeping the games here.

“There is great support from Limerick that we get Musgrave Park up and running. They can’t understand how the city councillors in Cork whose main objective is to look after Cork city are not looking after the sports grounds and how they are turning people away from Cork city. All these matches bring revenue to Cork city.”

Meanwhile Ireland coach Declan Kidney last night announced an enlarged 36-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Game against England, (Saturday, Croke Park).

IRELAND SQUAD v England Backs: T Bowe (Ospreys), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins, Ulster), G Dempsey (Terenure College, Leinster), G D’Arcy (Lansdowne, Leinster), K Earls (Young Munster, Munster), L Fitzgerald (Blackrock College, Leinster), S Horgan (Boyne, Leinster), R Kearney (UCD, Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), E Reddan (Wasps), B O’Driscoll (UCD, Leinster), R O’Gara (Cork Constitution, Munster), T O’Leary (Dolphin, Munster), J Sexton (St.Mary’s College, Leinster), P Stringer (Shannon, Munster), A Trimble (Ballymena, Ulster), P Wallace (Ballymena, Ulster).

Forwards: R Best (Banbridge, Ulster), T Buckley (Shannon, Munster), B Casey (London Irish), R Caldwell (Dungannon, Ulster), T Court (Malone, Ulster), S Ferris (Dungannon, Ulster), J Flannery (Shannon, Munster), J Hayes (Bruff- Munster), C Healy (Clontarf, Leinster), J Heaslip (Naas, Leinster), M Horan (Shannon, Munster), B Jackman (Clontarf, Leinster), S Jennings (St Mary’s College, Leinster), D Leamy (Cork Constitution, Munster), D O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution, Munster), P O’Connell (Young Munster, Munster), M O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution, Munster), A Quinlan (Shannon, Munster), D Wallace (Garryowen, Munster).