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Gaelic grounds development

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Replying To S.M:  "There are dozens of rumours surrounding the gaelic grounds. One of the best rumours doing the rounds is "The Ratts want a full size all weather pitch" as part of the moving deal.

The really frustrating part about the rumours is that nobody will out them and confirm them. It would stop alot of nonsense and show the whole county what is actually happening with this project instead of old "its with such and such now we are awaiting such and such". Thats nonsense.

Making Darver suitable for a 3000 seater stand would work better. Perhaps purchasing some nearby land for a car park that could host a Christmas Market or even a Circus in the off season. We could play the 1 or 2 big home games a year in Navan when it is revamped (like we always have) but have all the main money making activity in one location, Darver."
The Gaelic Grounds is a major development in a densely populated area. Which has many parties interested including residential, commercial and government. I have no doubt that neither Louth GAA or the rats holding this up.
I'm actually impressed with the level of professionalism this is being dealt with unlike alot of other things in Louth where everyone and anyone knows everything.
Developing Darver and playing games in Navan S.M must stand for Sadism and Masochism!

WheresDeBallBag (Louth) - Posts: 458 - 24/02/2018 16:48:41    2079711

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Let's be straight here, This county is in a mess.

County Grounds will never happen
County team's are in a mess
Darver is a joke, clubs pay there hard earned money to pay a monthly fee into Darver each month and then when you go there to train or play a game you are treated like dirt
Competition structures are a mess

We lack leadership, We lack ambition,

Why would any young lad want to play for this County

itslouth (Louth) - Posts: 178 - 26/02/2018 13:23:07    2080464

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Replying To itslouth:  "Let's be straight here, This county is in a mess.

County Grounds will never happen
County team's are in a mess
Darver is a joke, clubs pay there hard earned money to pay a monthly fee into Darver each month and then when you go there to train or play a game you are treated like dirt
Competition structures are a mess

We lack leadership, We lack ambition,

Why would any young lad want to play for this County"
Jaysus that's awful doom and gloom. What officer position do you hold on the county board or what motions did you bring to convention last year?

For anyone who says it's a cop out for me to meet to criticism of our county with the question of what are you doing to change it. I'll concede some people do not have the intelligence, drive or passion for the county to volunteer. So to anyone who is exempt from helping I will ask you when you critisise please justify all of your statements.

So itslouth please qualify, quantify and explain all of your sweeping statements above. This is a forum designed stimulate chat around Gaelic games not just a wc cubicle for you to scrawl any old trash on. Come on put in some effort, discuss, debate, educate and for the love of Gawd enjoy yourself.

WheresDeBallBag (Louth) - Posts: 458 - 26/02/2018 13:46:24    2080488

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Replying To WheresDeBallBag:  "The Gaelic Grounds is a major development in a densely populated area. Which has many parties interested including residential, commercial and government. I have no doubt that neither Louth GAA or the rats holding this up.
I'm actually impressed with the level of professionalism this is being dealt with unlike alot of other things in Louth where everyone and anyone knows everything.
Developing Darver and playing games in Navan S.M must stand for Sadism and Masochism!"
Professionalism? Honestly we have been talking about this for 20 years and NOTHING has happened yet this may be considered professional in some quarters in Ireland I personally don't think it to be professional at all.

LemonySnickett (Louth) - Posts: 88 - 27/02/2018 12:46:08    2080900

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Replying To LemonySnickett:  "Professionalism? Honestly we have been talking about this for 20 years and NOTHING has happened yet this may be considered professional in some quarters in Ireland I personally don't think it to be professional at all."
Do you have alot of experience in large scale commercial developments or are you talking from your tent raising experience?
This is a complex proposal, plans have been drawn and submitted to the relevant funding and planning authorities. A stumbling point has occurred. The professionalism I was commending was around the manner in which this delicate manner has been handled regarding privacy. A wrong word said in the ear of the wrong person can completely scupper a development of this kind. So my question to you is would you rather a county ground or would you rather be able to have the gossip about what's happening. Have a bit of faith in the people you elect through your club to look after the best interest of the county. Although as I've said before I am very worried that no one has been appointed to the development officer position in Louth. Is it just a poison chalice situation due to the pr around Drogheda or is it simply no one cares enough in the county to do anything but moan

WheresDeBallBag (Louth) - Posts: 458 - 27/02/2018 13:32:50    2080918

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County chairman announced to delegates at last weeks County Board Meeting that there will be a meeting held within the next three weeks between all parties including their legal advisors.
He promised a full update at next months meeting.
After six months of nothing happening all we have is another meeting, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting any progress.

Drogexile (Louth) - Posts: 79 - 11/03/2018 10:45:56    2083313

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Replying To Drogexile:  "County chairman announced to delegates at last weeks County Board Meeting that there will be a meeting held within the next three weeks between all parties including their legal advisors.
He promised a full update at next months meeting.
After six months of nothing happening all we have is another meeting, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting any progress."
Drogexile im afraid i have to agree with you. I would not hold my breath either as I dont think he is too bothered if we ever have a county ground. He is in the last year or so of his term and even if it starts in the norning he will not cut the tape on a new ground. IMO he is more interested in keeping all clubs quiet.
No ambition , no foresight , no drive and certainly no leadership.

Bluebod (Louth) - Posts: 89 - 15/03/2018 10:59:20    2084708

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LMFM twitter page reporting that Croke Park has confirmed that agreement between all parties cannot be reached so development not proceeding. County board will have to look at alternative options.

Drogexile (Louth) - Posts: 79 - 26/03/2018 17:59:57    2088405

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Croke Park confirm a failure to reach an agreement on the terms of the lease surrounding the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda. It would appear to signal the end of hopes to develop the Ground, with Croke Park now set to discuss alternative options with Louth Co Board



Shameful and embarrassing beyond all comprehension at this point now.

louthman57 (Louth) - Posts: 302 - 26/03/2018 18:17:10    2088411

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Can't describe how dissapointed to hear this news. I wasn't a supporter of doing up Gaelic Grounds but I would have taken it of course because this is going on 30 years. It's just hard to comprehend how long this saga is going on and to realise that yes we in Co Louth probably have to All Ireland title as worst county ground. I look at Downs lovely set up and Armagh, Navan albeit old now is getting a big makeover and had a great pitch. Cavan with Breffini Park. These are all our immediate neighbours and look at the state of this mess. Is it time for people to go out with begging buckets? Shameful when I go to matches and listen to away fans.
The line is drawn on the Gaelic Grounds...what are our options ?

GAAdundalk (Louth) - Posts: 641 - 26/03/2018 20:41:22    2088476

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At this stage I couldnt give a continental f....

joej (Louth) - Posts: 1615 - 26/03/2018 23:35:54    2088551

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Lads. Its a good thing,

At long last the proposed development of the Gaelic Grounds is over. It was never the place to go as it is so run down its embarrassing. It would be just throwing good hard earned money away.

So this Saturdays game v Meath should be the last time we see a senior inter-county game in Drogheda, The 2019 League campaign should be in Ardee as it is a fantastic grounds and super pitch.

As for the County Grounds, Now is the time for the committee who were in talks over Drogheda to stand aside and leave it to someone else as they had there chance and FAILED.

Croke Park should now take over and put the plan in place.

My opinion, A greenfield site just off Junction 14 (Ardee Link Road) off the M1. It will cost more but it will be a proper county grounds with easy access and somewhere we could call home of Louth GAA

itslouth (Louth) - Posts: 178 - 27/03/2018 08:27:03    2088580

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After all that, after years of talking, all the back and forth, all the artist impressions, all the pointless votes, we are still where we were 30 years ago. The Gaelic Grounds is a good club ground but it is not of the standard required in 2018.
For me, interest in GAA is at a pretty low ebb at the moment both on and off the pitch. This news just sums up the mood at the minute.
Where to go from here? I'm not sure, would another club be up for a collaboration (Ardee maybe)? A couple of miles up the road you have Castleblaney which is vastly superior to anything we have here and is an example of what can be achieved.
Drogheda was a non runner from the start and should never have been pursued.
In the end, does anyone really care anymore? I'm not sure they do.

AC (None) - Posts: 318 - 27/03/2018 08:30:09    2088581

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Replying To joej:  "At this stage I couldnt give a continental f...."
joej, I am going to join you in that, at this point, couldn't be bothered anymore, for the 5-6 home games we get a year I will put up with going to the north road for the games, been going there since a nipper so well used to what it brings , including the bank on a rainy day.

By the time they get around to sorting a proper county ground now, I reckon the majority of us on here will be watching down from above , sitting in the stand covered out of the rain :)

louthman57 (Louth) - Posts: 302 - 27/03/2018 08:33:59    2088583

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The kitchen sink and everything else should have been thrown at the prospect of a DKIT deal. Never in the history of my 30 years in this county have the pros far outweighed the cons when it came to the DKIT idea. (motorway, parking, accom/services, area to develop an actual stadium).
The County Grounds are exactly what we all know they are: a disgrace, an embarrassment, a bloody eyesore. And I wont forget to mention the other massive eyesore in the middle of the county i.e. the Centre of "Excellence" (seriously).
How much could have been put into a decent grounds set up with the money thrown away on this nuisance of a project in Darver?

tommybhoy (Louth) - Posts: 54 - 27/03/2018 08:45:00    2088586

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I feel for the Great Gaels who today were let down by Louth GAA in yesterdays breaking news.

The big question...How come this news was broken online and Louth GAA could not inform the clubs first???

for 30 years there were told lie after lie and now it all seems like a waste of time.

Please, Let someone with drive and vision take over and don't waste anymore time

itslouth (Louth) - Posts: 178 - 27/03/2018 10:35:36    2088613

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Replying To tommybhoy:  "The kitchen sink and everything else should have been thrown at the prospect of a DKIT deal. Never in the history of my 30 years in this county have the pros far outweighed the cons when it came to the DKIT idea. (motorway, parking, accom/services, area to develop an actual stadium).
The County Grounds are exactly what we all know they are: a disgrace, an embarrassment, a bloody eyesore. And I wont forget to mention the other massive eyesore in the middle of the county i.e. the Centre of "Excellence" (seriously).
How much could have been put into a decent grounds set up with the money thrown away on this nuisance of a project in Darver?"
True...I remember when I seen the plans for it I thought that after all the years it was finally happening.it ticked all the boxes and was unfortunately too good to be true as usual. Is it dead in the water? DKIT are quite adventurous and that campus is constantly growing. The last I heard about that deal was that it was a closed idea as they wanted to pump the money into Drogheda. Now that is finally over as a proposal surely it can be looked and again.
3 options for me are

1) explore the DKIT route, cheaper
2)greenfield site, more expensive but total control
3) do nothing

I feel it will be 3

GAAdundalk (Louth) - Posts: 641 - 27/03/2018 11:54:56    2088649

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Looking in from outside here, but it seems crazy to have persisted with Drogheda when that site seems fraught with issues. It's a sad state of affairs.

BarneysTie (Meath) - Posts: 262 - 27/03/2018 17:22:09    2088807

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Replying To GAAdundalk:  "True...I remember when I seen the plans for it I thought that after all the years it was finally happening.it ticked all the boxes and was unfortunately too good to be true as usual. Is it dead in the water? DKIT are quite adventurous and that campus is constantly growing. The last I heard about that deal was that it was a closed idea as they wanted to pump the money into Drogheda. Now that is finally over as a proposal surely it can be looked and again.
3 options for me are

1) explore the DKIT route, cheaper
2)greenfield site, more expensive but total control
3) do nothing

I feel it will be 3"
I'm as pessimistic as you . My only hope is that the GAA will take it out of the hands of our county board and drive it . Given the progress that almost all counties have made in relation to their county grounds Drogheda stands as a stark reminder of what neglect can do . The county board have not managed to progress the issue . It is now time to hand this over to people in the GAA who are capable of achieving something .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6177 - 27/03/2018 17:42:28    2088815

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Replying To Greengrass:  "I'm as pessimistic as you . My only hope is that the GAA will take it out of the hands of our county board and drive it . Given the progress that almost all counties have made in relation to their county grounds Drogheda stands as a stark reminder of what neglect can do . The county board have not managed to progress the issue . It is now time to hand this over to people in the GAA who are capable of achieving something ."
1st thing that needs doing is a clear out of everyone in county board 15yrs we have listened to them promising a new stadium and not 1 of them delivered. Too many clicks in county board they only worry about getting soft seats in croke park.we need a business man who has a vision to fundraise plan n deliver us a stadium that can bring us al a smile on our face when we watch our county team.players hate playing in Drogheda if we had proper facilities maybe players would make themselves available to play.the stadium should b in Dundalk as at least 70% of people who follow Louth r from north Louth n surrounding area.PS where's the money gone we got from croke park to keep us quiet after 2010 Leinster final

evergreen (Louth) - Posts: 26 - 27/03/2018 21:55:19    2088871

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