GAELIC GAMES PARNELL'S DEVELOPMENT: GAVIN CUMMISKEYtalks to club chairman Frank Gleeson as they prepare to build a ¤30 million home at Chanel College in Coolock, Dublin
PARNELL’S GAA club, in the Coolock area of north Dublin, are primed to commence a €30 million construction project that would transform their club and playing facilities into some of the best in Ireland.
The opportunity arose after some astute business saw Parnell’s sell 22 acres of land near the airport for €22.5 million at the height of the property boom two years ago. They have since embarked on a joint venture with the Marist Fathers in Chanel College to construct a state of the art facility that, providing the planning permission process runs smoothly, would be completed by the end of 2010.
As club chairman Frank Gleeson explains, Parnell’s purchased 12 acres off the Marist Fathers, at a reduced price known as “sporting use value”, to develop new facilities that will be primarily funded by the construction of a new housing development and medical centre.
“We came up with a plan to approach the Marist Fathers in Chanel College to buy the land off them and enter into a joint venture deal whereby we would develop the land and give the school use of the land,” Gleeson explained to The Irish Times.
“It was fairly bold step to sell our land without a deal done but we had a lot of faith in terms of our ability to work out something that made sense for ourselves, the Marist Fathers and the school.”
The new development will also consist of 12 houses and 69 apartments on the remaining four acres of land.
The plans were submitted to Dublin City Council on July 31st so a 12-week review period will be finished in late October.
It remains likely local objections will see the planning permission referred to An Bord Pleanála. This could see construction not commencing until early 2010. The project is expected to be completed within 12 months. If planning permission is rejected the Parnell’s club will be forced to move outside an area where they first settled in 1893.
“If we don’t get planning permission the deal will unravel,” Gleeson continued.
“Some of the residents have issue with a block of apartments coming into a densely populated area. Other issues people have would be the additional traffic coming in and out of the village.
“We have pretty much addressed the floodlighting issue by bringing in consultants who came up with a scheme that will minimise the intrusion for people around the area with modern techniques and lighting that will not prove a problem.
“I would say 90 per cent of people in the Coolock area are happy with the development because it guarantees the use for future generations of the school land.”
Local soccer and basketball teams will also benefit from the new project. There will also be a hurling and handball wall, a new clubhouse, a fully equipped gym and community meeting rooms on the ground floor.
“It guarantees the GAA club will be at the heart of Coolock village rather than what has happened in the past. A lot of clubs move outside their local area because they can’t get land.”
Parnell’s GAA club has resided at its current abode in Coolock village since 1974.
Despite not owning home pitches, they currently have 500 adult members and 400 juveniles with the target of increasing this to 2,000 over the next five years, on the presumption the plans receive a green light.
It is estimated that up to 300 people will be employed during the construction project. This would generate €8 million in wages for the local community. On completion the club would employ 10 full-time staff and 20 part-time.
€30 million project
* Two all weather pitches, one full-sized grass pitch, hurling and handball wall
* New clubhouse
* Sports hall with championship sized basketball courts, with retractable seating for 600 spectators
* Gym with sauna/steam rooms, sports therapy centre and changing rooms
* Meeting rooms
* Pedestrian, cycle and car access, with club parking.
