DUBLIN LEGEND JOHN O’Leary thinks NAMA could have done something for the sports community if they had accepted Dublin GAA’s bid for the Spawell Complex.
The county board were looking to buy the 35-acre site to develop a cluster of football pitches just off the M50 and there may also have been plans to build a stadium there further down the line.
The property was on the market for €6.5 million and the Dubs are understood to have bid considerably more than that, but NAMA received a higher offer, leaving Dublin’s bid obsolete.
O’Leary feels it’s a missed opportunity to help the community.
“You could be critical. The problem is, no one knows the full story from looking in from the outside.
“There has been lots of opportunities for the likes of NAMA or people who had a property portfolio to do something for the sports community.”
“So I would be going from the GAA angle, I’d be going at it from a sporting angle for the town itself, because there are lots of sports crying out for facilities.”
From a community point of view, it is a pity that NAMA couldn’t do something like that. Something that would be part of the Dublin culture.
A new medium-sized stadium being built in an accessible area beside the M50 has been discussed in recent times, as Parnell Park is too small to host Dublin league games and the cost of opening Croke Park for a relatively small crowd is too high.
O’Leary thinks it would be the right step but it would be a question of economics.
“While there might be a great will to do it, I think economics will be the bottom line.
“And then, if you build it, what’s the sustainability of it after that. Or would you co-locate with some other sport?
“Maybe have it going all the time as a sort of community project for Dublin, with maybe soccer and rugby and other sports using it as well.”
“I think it is inevitable in some way that we need to expand to have something that’s between Croke Park and Parnell Park and can cater for a crowd double the size of Parnell.”
Then you can get your home league games out of Croke Park and maybe some of your home championship games. It’d be interested to see it.
The Dublin hurlers and footballers are only guaranteed six home league games between them each year, so how best to pay off the multi-million euro stadium would come into the question.
O’Leary believes playing home championship matches in the early stages of Leinster would make sense.
“Will it be underused? The answer may well be ‘yes’ unless you can attract other sports or other community projects in it.”
“Should Dublin play some of their championship matches there? Well, I’ve never had any problem with Dublin playing their early championship matches out of Croke Park.”
And the hillsbourogh chants are just banter? Both sides have their elements
Bitter Man U fans as usual…..can’t take a beating.
They are disgraceful
Haha not bitter at all. Thats football, sometimes you lose. I dont know any united fan that wouldnt have taken a draw today. Disappointing to lose but so be it. Roll on the 11th, a chance to e even things up.
Which is exactly why I said both sides. But don’t let that get in the way I saying it’s just scousers it’s the football fan mentality in England where they don’t know when to cross the line
Two cups for the ‘Pool? (while the Mancs enjoy Thursday night football and battle it out for top spot). Progress at least.
Carling cup is there only chance at this moment in time, beating a very weak united team is nothing to be proud of
As gracious in defeat as ever….ah well suppose it’s better than the 3 united fans arrested for spitting at the Hillsborough Memorial today
I’m not even a utd fan. I’m just making a point that Liverpool weren’t playing against a good utd team. No Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, or an established right back. Not to mention a 37 and 38 year old in midfield.
To be fair though Conor Liverpool were missing Lucas and Suarez as well arguably their two most influential players
top notch defensive and attacking performance by liverpool also though. Carroll hasn’t been the best but played well today
I think Sir Alex is adding a bit of heat to the game by putting Patrice Evra as captain.
Huh? He is regulary Manchester Uniteds captain. Why would today be any different?
The ‘One Lying bastard’ chant sums thrm up perfectly. Klanfield indeed.
I hear ‘without killing anyone’ nothing about hillsborough. Its a reference to Heysel. Remember that one?
And no Ice on the Runway today from the Kop?
Cant believe KKK went with Caroll over Bellamy, Bellamy is about 10 times the player & 20 times more dangerous than Caroll.
United by far the best team in the first half,should never have let in a goal that soft. Id have stuck with Lindegaard.
Great atmosphere to be fair.loving the ‘always the victims,never your fault’ song.
Bellamy’s knees are knackered. Not supposed to play for 90 mins even oncce a week and had two games already this week. Should be on for Maxi, 2nd half. Bad as Carroll is he’ll make a nuisance of himself for United’s defence and keeper and good for the odd nod down.
Good goal from Kuyt. Evra caught out & DDG bad yet again.
Looked offside to me
Can you be offside from a goal kick, let me ask you?
Thanks Paul. I’m a Mayo man meself but I’ll take ur interesting and original thought onboard.
2.1
Tired or not Bellamy has to start 2nd half instead of Maxi. Adam and Johnson for Henderson and Downing, Johnson to play right wing. No point in hesitating with the changes Kenny.Stream has gone so can’t see 2nd half!