Big boost for Laois Gaelic games as GAA club seals land deal
Mountrath GAA club has taken a big step toward meeting the growing appetite for Gaelic games in the town.
The club has sealed a deal with Mountrath Livestock Co-op Mart for the purchase of 3.5 acres of land.
The sale was confirmed when co-op members voted recently to agree on the sale of 3.5 acres of land to the club for pitch development.
The Chairman of Mountrath Livestock Co-op Mart Committee Ger Brickley confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that members gave the go-ahead at a special meeting of members last week.
Mr Brickley confirmed that the sale to GAA club had been in the pipeline for a number of years. An overwhelming majority of members voted in favour. He believed it would be of benefit to the club as they had run short of space.
This was a view shared by St Fintan's Chairman Tom Meade who thanked the mart members for agreeing to the sale.
“It's brilliant that 97% voted in favour,” he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
He said there would be enough space in the land for at least two more pitches to add to the club's sole existing pitch for which teams nearly have to 'queue' to use at present.
He hoped that the project is 'ready to go' and all going to plan the play should be possible in 2024.
He said the demand is there not just because there has been a rise in its own numbers but also because it shares facilities with camogie and ladies football.
He said the ladies clubs have big catchment areas in Laois.
“It's badly needed,” he said.
He said the ground could also be used by schools and county teams if needed.
Mr Meade added that work follows a major upgrade of the clubhouse and lighting in recent years. He was not in a position to state the level of investment involved.
Mr Brickley also told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that talks are also at "an advanced" stage with a third party who would take over the running of the mart if talks reach an agreement.
Co-op members also voted to approve the lease of the mart to a third-party operator if a deal could be secured.
The Mart closed due to rising costs, particularly insurance costs which were cited as being "crippling". It had been operating continuously for 51 years.