*Dr Daly Park, Tulla.
TULLA GAA are proceeding with plans for an indoor hurling wall and astroturf as well as a new all weather pitch.
The East Clare club has produced further information as part of a planned expansion at their grounds in Knockadoon.
On the 9th of April, Tulla GAA Club applied to Clare County Council seeking permission to “construct an indoor hurling wall and indoor astro turf playing area 35m x 25m together with demolition and replacement of existing public toilets” and “to construct a new all-weather pitch served by 6 no. 6 metre high floodlights and perimeter fencing and all associated site works”.
The club, which is the oldest in Clare and currently competes at Intermediate level, has planned for the major development to take place at their grounds in Dr. Daly Park in Knockadoon, Tulla. The project has been endorsed by Councillor Joe Cooney (FG).
Jamie Vaughan Design, an Ennistymon based architecture firm, has drawn up plans for the development. The proposed development has received no objections.
Clare County Council has ordered Tulla GAA to produce further information in their plans however, citing a number of concerns. The local authority has noted safety issues due to the lack of public lighting near the club’s grounds and the increase in volume of traffic the development is likely to cause.
The planning department stated that “The footpath and lighting network in the town of Tulla does not extend as far as the proposal site and there is concern that the proposed development of additional facilities, which is likely to increase the level of pedestrian and cycle activity along the regional road, may endanger pedestrians and cyclists and create a traffic hazard”.
In response to these concerns, Jamie Vaughan Design issued a statement saying “The existing facility does not generate high levels of pedestrian activity in the day-to-day activities such as training / small matches. Larger events such as “big matches” and the music festival have traffic management plans in place to cater for the pedestrian activity. These plans are developed in consultation with and approved by the Local Authority & The Gardai prior to the events”.
The proposed new indoor astroturf, all weather pitch and hurling wall are planned for winter training only and are not expected to be used for adult games. The planning department also asked that drawings of the proposed floodlights be submitted, stating that “insufficient detail has been provided”.
Jamie Vaughan Design has now changed the plans however, and responded to Clare County Council by saying that “We now wish to omit the floodlights, the proposed all weather pitch will only be used in the daytime and the indoor space will cater for all nighttime training”.
Clare County Council is now due to make a decision on the proposed development by the 14th of May 2025.
