Cork GAA has reaffirmed its commitment to staying in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, despite speculation in recent months that the county board has been looking at acquiring a green-field site further out from the city.
"Everyone is in on this except us," according to county chair Jim Forbes. "I would like to emphasise that we have received no offer in relation to this and that it has never been part of our deliberations. We want to refurbish Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but need additional land to do so.
"Central to the refurbishment would be the construction of a two-tier stand where the uncovered stand now is."
The Cork venue has a long history and before it was reopened as Páirc Uí Chaoimh 29 years ago had been the old Athletic Grounds. Despite the relatively recent renovation the venue is in need of an overhaul and could soon find itself in the position of Croke Park in the 1980s with the prospect of a gradual erosion of its capacity by the safety inspectors.
This year's sell-out Munster final between Cork and Tipperary at the venue was attended by 43,500, whereas the same pairing 18 years previously attracted 50,000.
The problem for the county board is that the ground is hemmed in with the show grounds of the local show society presenting the most obvious potential for stadium development.
"As soon as you walk out the glass doors at the back of the stadium you're on the show grounds property," says Forbes, "and it belongs to them through a long-term lease from the city council."
The Cork venue is hard to access from the city centre with traffic and parking restrictions or a 40-minute walk. Situated on a waterfront stretch down from the marina, it is currently zoned as an amenity area. As such its commercial value is minimal and certainly not enough to bankroll the acquisition of a green-field site given the speculative value of even farmland.
This dilemma is increasingly common for GAA units with property prices climbing so steeply over the past 10 years.
"GAA grounds tend to be in strategic locations in towns and cities," says Forbes, "and so are quite valuable. In Cork we've seen Nemo Rangers relocate."
A likely plan should the GAA be forced to develop a new ground elsewhere would be to do so in partnership with a property developer, but the preference remains to stay on the current site. "We've been here for over 100 years," says Forbes.
The only way that the preferred option can come to pass is if the city council manages to persuade the owners of the show grounds to give up the lease and relocate. Should that happen the Cork county board would hope to redevelop the stadium on their own.
In relation to the controversy over the withdrawal of the Erin's Own club from the county hurling championship, Forbes said that the matter would be discussed at the next meeting of the county executive.
"We haven't talked about it at all yet and have nothing scheduled. The position at the moment is that we have county semi-finals scheduled for the first weekend in October. We aren't making any further comment on it at the moment."
The club pulled out after failing to secure the go-ahead of the county board for a postponement of the championship fixture with Newtownshandrum because of injuries picked up by Brian Corcoran and Kieran Murphy when playing for Cork in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Clare nine days ago.
Liam Hayes has said he will continue as Carlow football manager and will not be in contention for the post in Meath. Hayes was nominated to challenge Seán Boylan for the Meath manager's position but will not be allowing his name to go forward.
Hayes said: "It's flattering to be nominated, but I gave my word to Carlow that I would be with them again next year. I have no intention of going back on it.
"I've got a great reaction from the Carlow players, county board and the clubs, which I appreciate, so you can all rest assured I'm staying on for a second term.
"We've started something in Carlow and we'll be working hard to progress it next year. The talent and the commitment is there so I'm looking forward to getting back in October."
