*Photograph: John Mangan
Clare GAA must “bite the bullet” and complete necessary improvement works at Cahelohan, an East Clare delegate stated at Tuesday’s County Convention.
An independent report was sought by Tulla “to examine the cost effectiveness of county teams hiring other venues as opposed to using Caherlohan and that this body also report on what is required to bring Caherlohan to the required level so that all county teams can train adequately”.
Pat Fitzgerald in his report to Convention outlined his “ambition and intention” to have the Centre of Excellence “capable of facilitating all players playing our games both football and hurling from development squad stage right up to our adult teams within the next two years”.
These comments were referenced by Tulla’s Brian Torpey when speaking on the motion. He noted that between €22,000 to €23,500 was spent each year hiring pitches. Approaches were made by personnel involved in the county minor, U20 and senior hurling teams to train in Dr Daly Park in recent months, he outlined. “That doesn’t make sense we have a six field facility in Caherlohan. It does require a lot of work. We need to bite the bullet and get the work done”.
Outgoing Chairman, Joe Cooney confirmed that a large infrastructural grant has been applied for. “We are hopeful it will be approved and if it is it will go a long way to bring the Centre of Excellence to a proper standard. If it does come through, it will solve a lot of problems”.
Earlier in the meeting, Cooney said it was “almost definite” that a large fund would be given for “badly needed” upgrades at Caherlohan.
