Limerick county board secretary Mike O'Riordan says the Gaelic Grounds has become a burden and financial issue for the board.

According to the Limerick Leader newspaper, O'Riordan's report to next Monday night's annual convention will call for a report into the future of the Gaelic Grounds, including potentially replacing the Mackey Stand.

"The one area in need of attention in particular is the Mackey Stand and I feel that there will have to be major review of the future of the venue once the Mick Neville Park project is completed. Everyone would love to see the North Stand covered and the Mackey Stand replaced with a stand with the same gradient as its counterpart," said O'Riordan.

"Whether there is an appetite within the county to progress with a project of that scale will remain to be seen. With any project in the short and long term it will have to be self-sufficient," said the secretary.

"The lack of games and events at the Gaelic Grounds is a major concern again this year with only one game of substance Limerick v Tipperary being played in the City venue. Having explored the idea of concerts being held there and no real appetite from promoters to utilise the venue we will now have to explore other areas of revenue to maintain the facility. The hosting of certain National Hurling and Football League games at the venue is not viable. The burden of the facility is becoming a financial issue for the Board even though the commercial activities have increased it is still not enough to make it self-sufficient.

"The Gaelic Grounds is also an area of concern financially especially when there is no guaranteed game next summer."

Rathkeale's Mick Neville Park is thought to be close to completion, with the total cost of the project somewhere in the region of €3.6million.

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