Battle over Galway GAA pitches plan heating up

The decision was made by St Michael’s after meeting with the club executive of neighbouring Salthill Knocknacarra on Tuesday to discuss the planning application lodged with Galway City Council in February.

Rahoon/Newcastle, which fields hurling and camogie teams, confirmed last week that it was opposing the Salthill/Knocknacarra proposal for three pitches at Mincloon.

As well as environmental concerns, Rahoon/Newcastle outlined that among its reasons for objecting was it would be a car-dependent development generating additional traffic; it would be a health and safety hazard because the Clybaun junction is not safe; and the development was premature until a decision is made on the proposed Galway City Ring Road.

But in a statement this week, Salthill Knocknacarra insisted that its planning application contains detailed information that allay fears around traffic and road safety.

This included a “comprehensive” roads and traffic plan submitted with its planning application which is open for public observations until March 23, and can be viewed online.

Salthill Knocknacarra said that “inaccurate claims” circulating failed to acknowledge that “significant road infrastructure improvements form a central part” of the planning application.

St. Michael’s said it planned to issue a comprehensive statement later today (Friday) outlining in detail its rationale but it confirmed to the Tribune that it was opposing the plans, and was encouraging its members to do likewise. It alerted its membership of its position in WhatsApp messages.

A member of St Michael’s executive committee told this newspaper that the club was “pro-development but we believe this (plan for pitches) is premature and it is in the wrong place”.

Among the problems St Michael’s has with the proposal is road infrastructure, road safety, and traffic, as well as claims in the planning application around ‘sustainable mobility’.

Other concerns – which won’t necessarily be considered by planners – are to do with sporting issues, and the development’s location.

St Michael’s claimed that Salthill Knocknacarra had misinterpreted the GAA bye-laws and demographics. They also dispute the assertion from Salthill Knocknacarra regarding the ‘official’ position of Galway GAA on this development.

Player displacement – whereby children from traditional St Michael’s areas would join Salthill/Knocknacarra due to proximity to Mincloon pitches, and thus threaten the viability of St Michael’s – was another major issue in the club executive’s thought process.

St Michael’s encouraged its members to attend an event at Rahoon/Newcastle clubhouse in Tonabrucky last night (Thursday) to sign a petition against the proposal.

In a statement to members last Friday, Rahoon/Newcastle said it was objecting to the plans on environmental, planning, traffic and ecological grounds.

The club encouraged members to submit individual objections, “so that the true depth of feelings against this can be made known to our planners in City Hall and our elected representatives”.

“The planning application proposes an unprecedented situation within the GAA where a super club is attempting to move into an area where three other clubs operate. It is also totally contrary to the GAA’s recent demographics study which refers to limiting super clubs developing at the expense or decline of smaller ones,” Rahoon/Newcastle said.

Cumann Peile Bhearna Na Forbacha – which spoke out about a similar proposal some years ago – has not yet commented publicly on this latest plan.

‘Compliant with rules’

Salthill Knocknacarra has always insisted locating pitches in Mincloon was compliant with GAA bye-laws and rules on catchment areas.

The club executive this week defended its development.

It said its roads plan submitted with the application includes upgrades to Clybaun Junction, road widening to the site entrance and a traffic impact assessment.

Its application also includes “comprehensive environmental assessments”, and is in “full compliance with GAA catchment regulations”.

The application, it said, was not dependent on the Galway Ring Road going ahead but its modelling included scenarios with and without the proposed new road.

John Tyrrell of the club’s Mincloon Development Committee said: “We continue to engage proactively and constructively with other clubs, local representatives and relevant stakeholders. We thank those who have taken up our offer of engagement and we will continue to work with them. We remain open and available to engage in constructive, informed discussions with those who have not yet responded to our invitation.”

Separately, as it pushed to develop more facilities, Salthill Knocknacarra GAA noted that “recent closures of City Council pitches have once again affected hundreds of underage players across Galway”.

Salthill Knocknacarra said the development was essential to meet the needs of its 2,200 members across 65 teams.

Its clubhouse and pitch at the Prairie will “remain the centre” of its activities but Mincloon will add “much needed facilities to meet the challenges of our growing club”.

The plans include two grass pitches and one all-weather synthetic pitch with dugouts, floodlighting and ball-stop netting; a covered viewing stand, single storey facilities building and single-storey maintenance building; public playground; parking for 95 cars and three coaches; and bicycle parking for 144 bikes; a new vehicular and pedestrian access to the site at Clybaun Road; and other works.

Submissions and observations on the plans remain open.