It is extremely important that all elected members of Kerry County Council publicly support the application for funding to redevelop and upgrade Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney if the project is to succeed, a meeting of the council was told this Monday.
Cllr Niall Kelleher said he appreciates the letter of support that was submitted by the council executive but it is vital that the entire county is seen to back plans for a €70 million-plus redevelopment of the premier stadium in the county.
He said the fund for which the application has been submitted can deliver for larger scale projects but there are other initiatives, like the plans by Tuosist GAA, that also need to be wholeheartedly supported.
Cllr Kelleher said the redevelopment of Fitzgerald Stadium would have a huge economic impact for the whole county.
“I would be very hopeful that the application will be looked on with positive favour,” he remarked.
Cllr Kelleher said he organised a meeting between the Sports Minister, Thomas Byrne, and the Kerry GAA – both ladies and gents – and he has since written to and spoken with him again regarding the matter.
He said it was important that the council should write to the minister pledging wholehearted support for the project and that the letter should be copied to the Kerry County Board.
Cllr Kelleher’s proposal was seconded by Cllr Fionán Fitzgerald while Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald said it was important for councillors to support every funding application from the county.
Kerry County Council CEO, Martin O’Donoghue, said the council has indicated its support for the Fitzgerald Stadium application throughout the process.
The case for the major redevelopment of Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney was presented, in great detail, to Minister Byrne at a meeting in Killarney last February.
He discussed the matter with senior Kerry GAA officials and Kerry TDs Minister Norma Foley and Brendan Griffin at a meeting convened by Cllr Kelleher who was then Mayor of Killarney. Minister Byrne was extensively briefed on plans for the redevelopment of the county’s flagship stadium.
The county board was adamant that it would not get into major debt over any development work on the stadium and it will be relying on government support as well as a number of international fundraising initiatives.
Concerns have been repeatedly voiced over the decay of the county’s main GAA ground and several studies have been undertaken which highlight a pressing need for refurbishment or redevelopment.
A cost benefit analysis put the likely refurbishment cost at close to €35 million while a major redevelopment carries an estimated price tag of €78 million which is likely to rise given increasing construction and materials costs.
Consultants have conducted extensive research to devise a major plan to redevelop the stadium which was built in 1936 and is badly in need of an upgrade.
Provisional plans include the construction of a new double-tier stand on the Michael O’Connor Terrace side of the ground, a new single tier stand to replace the existing O’Sullivan Stand, a new all-seater stand at the Lewis Road end of the ground and a new terraced stand at the scoreboard end near Torc Terrace and St Brendan’s Terrace.
The plan is to create an ultra-modern stadium equipped to cater for big sporting occasions in a number of codes as well as major entertainment acts.
A Fitzgerald Stadium finance committee, spearheaded by County Board Chairman, Patrick O’Sullivan, who has a proven track record of generating major financial support for various GAA projects over the years, has been tasked with overseeing the project and an initial 150 Club fundraising drive received 100 per cent community support.
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