THE GALWAY GAA treasurer said that Croke Park must accept some responsibility for the part they played in a ‘financial disaster’ which had ended up costing the county almost €3m.
Michael Burke said that the purchase of land at the height of the Celtic Tiger near Athenry for the development of a huge hurling training centre was ‘a dreadful mistake’ by Galway but that the GAA hierarchy in Croke Park must also be held accountable for the part they played in its purchase and also insisting on the sale of the land.
Galway hurling board purchased over 100 acres of land near Athenry at the height of the Celtic Tiger period and had hoped to develop a state-of-the-art training complex worth about €8m.
Planning permission was granted in 2008 for the development at Mountain South close to the M6 motorway which included six pitches, one of them an all-weather floodlit facility, dressing rooms, gymnasiums, meeting rooms, hurling walls and ancillary facilities.
Galway hurling board paid €2.8m for 102 acres and paid hundreds of thousands in bank interest before a sale was agreed in conjunction with Croke Park and Galway will continue to pay off a debt of €300,000 until 2028.
“We are now in a solid financial position and that certainly wasn’t always the case,” treasurer Burke told the annual Galway GAA convention.
“We are meeting our commitments of annual repayments of almost €300,000 to Croke Park for a dreadful mistake that was made in the past to purchase Mountain South.
“It was a financial disaster, bought for a crazy price at the time and sold for half the money it might fetch now. In any event, Croke Park insisted on the sale and perhaps it is for the better.
“The project was never feasible in the first instance. It will end up ultimately having cost us the best part of €3 million. Just think about what that money could have done for us if it was not for such a grave error?.
“A disaster like this can never be allowed to happen again. Burying our heads in the sand was never going to resolve the problem.
“I will be asking Croke Park to look favourably on infrastructure grants for Galway because after all, they were part of the decision-making process to buy Mountain South and indeed the sale of it.
“It is unfair to ask Galway to carry the blame and the pain for the whole mess. Croke Park owe us one on this,” he added.
Sounds like MON might not be playing them but at least if they’re in the squad they get a chance to impress.
Can’t remember the last Kilkenny man to play for Ireland?
@Adrian Costigan: Matt O’Mahoney back in the 1930′s, apparently.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_O%27Mahoney
Made in cork city’,finished product
@billy Dorney: Made at Deen Celtic, Castlecomber.
If the last Kilkenny man to play for Ireland was in 1930, can you stop trying to claim our Seanie :)
@Adrian Costigan: no
4 goals between them in 23 league appearances this season in England. I won’t hold my breath
@Eoghan Rock: I’m sure Seanie Maguire hasn’t played 23 games for Preston. Maybe five. Get your facts right
@Gene O’Keeffe: did I suggest he Maguire played that many games? I said between 23 games between them. Which means Maguire O’Brien and Hogan combined incase you can’t understand that simple sentence either. Get your eyes checked and then come back and get your facts right .
@Eoghan Rock: me and Floyd Mayweather have won 51 professional fights between us.
At last,go seanie boy go
Of the two, Hogan is more likely to make the stepup to the international scene. He is already proven at Championship level with Brentford – unlike Maguire. Were it not for some ferocious injuries, his progress would be much greater. He has great pace and an eye for goal, and is very reminiscent of Jamie Vardy, not least in the amount of lower division experience that he has. I really hope MON gives him an opportunity
Pedigree top of class
Sean Maguire moved to Preston at the end of June this year.
As a villa fan that see how Hogan every week I wouldn’t get to excited he is a bit part player been kept out of the team by a 19 year old.
What ever happened to Judge, is he back from injury.
Where Andy Boyle not starting at Preston