Mayo GAA asked to provide answers about planned centre of excellence

MAYO GAA has been asked to provide answers on its plans for a centre of excellence at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar.

The multi-million euro project has stalled and local councillors want to know where it is going.

A Lough Lannagh Development Committee was established at the monthly Castlebar Municipal District meeting this week, which includes all seven elected members, and they have requested Mayo GAA attend a meeting and answer their questions.

Councillor Cyril Burke said there seems to be talk on the ground about a ‘clash’ between the planned Castlebar centre and the existing centre of excellence in Bekan.

He didn’t see this as an issue at all and any myth had to be put to bed. Smaller GAA counties had centres and with it so big in Mayo, it was imperative to have this centre in Castlebar.

He couldn’t see how it would affect the Bekan centre, which is always full. And the point was made by Councillor Blackie Gavin that the facility there was the Connaught centre of excellence, while what was planned in Castlebar was for the county.

In Sligo, a multi-million euro project was underway and the University of Limerick was another example of an academic and sporting hub, he said. And sport was huge in Mayo, with commitments for a state-of-the-art climbing wall also at Lannagh, and the running track shovel ready to go.

This is a multi-million industry which will attract people from all over the country and the world, as has happened with boxing. They needed to push on, said Councillor Gavin.

Councillor Michael KIlcoyne, who has previously requested a report on the matter, said he expects to see that report circulated before they next meet.

Councillor Donna Sheridan agreed they should definitely know where they are with this and she suggested the GAA be invited to a meeting.

Also supportive of this was Councillor Martin McLoughlin, saying it was too big of a project to leave hanging out there, with them in limbo and not knowing.

“The town needs this,” he said. “We can’t afford to let the clock keep ticking.”