THE GAA and residents around Croke Park stadium in Dublin are set to clash over plans to demolish a handball and community centre and build a new facility.
Dublin City Council has received a planning application from the GAA, which is trustee of the Handball and Community Centre at St Joseph’s Avenue, close to the Hill 16 entrance to Croke Park.
The plan provides for the demolition of the existing three-storey building, which contains two handball courts, community space and a popular bar. It is also used by four Dublin handball clubs.
The new building to replace it will be almost three times the size at 3,417sq m over four storeys, including a double basement.
Five handball courts are included in the plan, one of which, in the basement, will have seating for 1,450 people. It will cost €9 million and will also contain offices at third-floor and fourth-floor level and a community room. There will be no bar.
Local residents have said they are very concerned by the proposal. They say the GAA will be in total control of what has been a community-run facility for the past 40 years.
Eamon O’Brien, chairman of the Croke Park Streets Committees Association, said residents were very angry with the GAA and believed it is motivated by greed. “We believe the GAA will use the new building as a conference centre.”
He claimed the handball court in the basement would have moveable walls leaving an amphitheatre suitable for conferences. “Otherwise why would you build a handball court with space for 1,450 people? Even at the world handball final in America, only about 200 people attended.”
Mr O’Brien said there was no need for office space for 60 people in the building, unless the centre was to be used for conferences. The current centre is used by a variety of local organisations and the bar is popular for christenings, funerals and other local events.
A spokesman for the GAA declined to comment on any of the allegations raised by Mr O’Brien.
A “process of dialogue” had started with local residents, local community leaders and local public representatives, he said. “Until such time as that dialogue has run its course, we will not be commenting.”
