Portlaoise GAA Club at milestone in Laois sports and community project

Portlaoise GAA Club reached the first major milestone in the redevelopment of its Rathleague facilities.

It says planning application set to be submitted to Laois County Council this week, marking the next phase of the programme to improve the club’s grounds and strengthen its role as a sporting and community hub for Portlaoise.

A statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said the planning application includes the construction of a new clubhouse and indoor training facility, a viewing stand, as well as pitch and floodlight enhancements. The GAA club says this will provide high-quality facilities for club members, players, and the wider Portlaoise community, from athletes to supporters.

The plans were due to be presented to club members at a meeting on Monday evening, May 5 and pending planning approval, work on-site is expected to commence later this year, with completion projected for summer 2027. The club says the appointment of contractors will support local employment during construction.

The redevelopment is supported by Travis and Maryse Knight (née Fitzpatrick) in commemoration of Maryse’s beloved brother and nephew, Eoin and Dylan Fitzpatrick. The boys tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident in Turkey in July 2023.

Eamon Fennelly and Dermot Costelloe, joint Chairpersons of Portlaoise GAA Club, commented.

“This is an important day for Portlaoise GAA, the Fitzpatrick family and for the entire community. The submission of our planning application is a testament to the incredible work that has already taken place at Rathleague and reflects our commitment to providing a top-class facility.

Pending planning approval, this redevelopment would not only enhance our club’s sporting infrastructure but also provide the town’s young people with resources and facilities to help them reach their full potential. The redevelopment would represent a significant contribution to the sporting and social fabric of Portlaoise, and we are incredibly grateful to Maryse and Travis, whose support enables this,” they said.

Maryse and Travis Knight also reflected on the importance of reaching this phase of the development. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Here’s what the new Portlaoise GAA facility is expected to look like on the pitch

“It’s been incredibly heartening to see the passion and commitment displayed by everyone involved in this project to date. It further demonstrates the sense of community and togetherness that has helped our family immeasurably over the past two years. It also reinforces our belief that this is the right way to honour Eoin and Dylan in a meaningful and enduring way,” concluded the family.

The planned project represents an expansion of plans for the ground, which were the subject of previous planning applications for Rathleague where the club have been located since 2008 after moving out of their HQ beside O'Moore Park.

In October 2022 Portlaoise GAA lodged plans for a phased multi-million euro development. The club said it wanted to revamp facilities over three phases with Phase 1, or TOWN25, to be completed by 2025. 

The club's three-phase plan was more modest the the original extensive project which was granted permission in 2007. It included a clubhouse with 14 dressing rooms, a sports hall, bar, lounge and restaurant facilities. A leisure centre was planned to include a swimming pool, gym, aerobics area was planned with other facilities and nine full-sized playing pitches. Two spectator stands were also planned alongside a children's play area.

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The project was never realised because of the property crash which saw a major residential and commercial development plan for the old grounds on Fr Brown Avenue collapse.

An Bórd Pleanála found against the proposal in December 2008 and a Cork company pulled the plug in early 2009, leaving the club €6,500,000 in debt and in possession of two properties.

Portlaoise GAA were eventually rescued by a deal brokered by Croke Park. It resulted in Laois GAA taking ownership of the old grounds beside O'Moore Park. The land was subsequently transformed into the LOETB Laois GAA Centre of Excellence which is now used by county teams for training and matches as well as various club games.