National Forum

Westmeath Football thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To jobber:  "St Lomans astro??
Funded by Leinster???
I think you are at least partially wrong on both counts.
If I remember right it Lomans and Westmeath and was funded by Westmeath and Leinster"
Sorry Jobber don't understand your statement - did Leinster GAA not grant aid the astro at Lomans ?

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1226 - 16/12/2025 09:34:43    2648500

Link

Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Finea to Tyrrellspass 48 Minutes
Glasson to Robinstown 44 Minutes

You have proven the exact point why the county is fractured; it's all about North Westmeath. God forbid underage players would have to drive 45 Minutes for a county final in a top of the range pitch and facility.

So it's ok for the players from Athlone, Tang, Maryland, Garrycastle, Tubberclair etc to travel 44 Minutes to Robinstown where the proposed COE is, but it's an issue for Northern clubs to travel the other way. Clonmellon to Tyrrellspass is less than Glasson to Robinstown, I'm using Glasson as I think it's the most Southern point in the county.

Are a lot of the county hurlers not from Castletown, Raharney, Clonkill and surrounding areas anyhow.

The above is the very reason most didn't get behind the COE; it's location bang in the middle of two of our biggest Mullingar clubs. Every man and dog on the street knows it should be further south towards Loughnavalley direction. I don't think the original poster is in cuckoo land, you are my friend."
Glasson is North East of Athlone , so certainly not the most southern part. It's about as far south as Kinnegad. As far as driving time from Robinstown , then Tubberclair are probably the furthest alright- which is probably what you were getting at.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 502 - 16/12/2025 10:39:38    2648510

Link

Replying To jobber:  "So tell me how are you going to pay the Minimum extra 100k in expenses to the hurlers, the extra good costs of bringing the food from North of Mullingar to Kilbeggan. Not to minds having Finea,Ballycomoyle,St Pauls,Delvin football and hurling,Castlepollard,Lough Lene Gaels, Brownstown,Ringtown,Crookedwood and the county chairmans Multifarnham,the last chairmans Ballynacargy all up in arms at having to travel to Kilbeggan for underage knock out games. You my friend are living in cloud cuckoo land"
Location is key and really Delvin to Kilbeggan has a great road now maybe you haven't travelled much lately and sure there some great food outlets in Kilbeggan now . They could even try Kilbeggan porridge it's very good for gaa player's. I am sure some of the players from the north of the county would enjoy a nice bowl of warm porridge after training

Undertheroad (Westmeath) - Posts: 86 - 16/12/2025 12:10:02    2648528

Link

Replying To BigSur:  "Sorry Jobber don't understand your statement - did Leinster GAA not grant aid the astro at Lomans ?"
As far as i know Lonans provided the site and Westmeath and Leinster funded It 50/50

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1849 - 16/12/2025 12:23:05    2648532

Link

Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Finea to Tyrrellspass 48 Minutes
Glasson to Robinstown 44 Minutes

You have proven the exact point why the county is fractured; it's all about North Westmeath. God forbid underage players would have to drive 45 Minutes for a county final in a top of the range pitch and facility.

So it's ok for the players from Athlone, Tang, Maryland, Garrycastle, Tubberclair etc to travel 44 Minutes to Robinstown where the proposed COE is, but it's an issue for Northern clubs to travel the other way. Clonmellon to Tyrrellspass is less than Glasson to Robinstown, I'm using Glasson as I think it's the most Southern point in the county.

Are a lot of the county hurlers not from Castletown, Raharney, Clonkill and surrounding areas anyhow.

The above is the very reason most didn't get behind the COE; it's location bang in the middle of two of our biggest Mullingar clubs. Every man and dog on the street knows it should be further south towards Loughnavalley direction. I don't think the original poster is in cuckoo land, you are my friend."
I take your points but like It or not the majority of the clubs are in north and central Westmeath. MulIingar is the capital and centre of the county. Castletown,Brígids,Fr Dalton's and Southern Gaels provide about six or seven of the 35 strong hurling panel.I believe we need to do a deal with some of the clubs around Athlone to develop something but Rome wasn't built in a day. I take your points about southern parts of the county being detached from the board but have to ask how many of the people in the south put themselves forward for election? Tom Farrell Tang was chair followed by Sean Sheridan but the last three have all been from the north.
Lomans astro was developed in Farrell's time.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1849 - 16/12/2025 12:36:04    2648533

Link

Replying To Westmeath213:  "The astroturf pitch is solely a Leinster council gig. Leinster council funded the whole development dressing rooms included and infact they still own it. Not exactly sure on the right name for it but the guy who is in charge of taking bookings etc for the Astro is in some way employed by Leinster council. Westmeath had little to do with it and Lomans even less so.

I think it does be overlooked at times that Lomans have only 1 proper playing pitch of their own which is amazing and after seeing a few school games on it recently the pitch is in need of some serious work."
Yeah I believe Westmeath and Lomans had little to do with it but there was another party to the original agreement. That would be for another chat though

Darragh (Westmeath) - Posts: 360 - 16/12/2025 12:48:01    2648536

Link

Anyway, I was just speculating that the COE location close to other substantial club facilities might influence the thinking - I also omitted the 2 pitches at Plunketts. Had a quick look online and I don't see any planning application lodged for the COE ? What was latest update ?

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1226 - 16/12/2025 14:16:12    2648549

Link

Replying To BigSur:  "Anyway, I was just speculating that the COE location close to other substantial club facilities might influence the thinking - I also omitted the 2 pitches at Plunketts. Had a quick look online and I don't see any planning application lodged for the COE ? What was latest update ?"
There is no application yet as far as I know. Shamrocks had theirs approved 2 weeks ago. 2 full size pitches, 1 smaller pitch, 300 parking spaces, entrance off the link road, and connection to their existing grounds.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 502 - 16/12/2025 14:52:40    2648556

Link

Hard luck to Tubberclare at weekend our countys last hope in leinster, no Westmeath team has ever won it and i think at 50 mins in i would have backed them to see out the game by 2-3 points but momentum swung against them, cannot afford to have 3 fouls against the new rules, a couple of calls went against them and then 2 sucker punch goals when they probably should have had a chance of a 2-pointer to make it a 2 point game with 5 minutes to go. Lomans the last to come very close, The Downs obviously beaten a few years ago. Outside of Garrycastle when was the last final outing at any Grade? Actually forgot about Multy.

Maybe 2 smaller COE's is the way forward, cant call it COE in any case, Put 3 pitches in Mullingar, 3 Pitches in Athlone.

nadunta2025 (Westmeath) - Posts: 15 - 16/12/2025 15:43:15    2648567

Link

Replying To jobber:  "I take your points but like It or not the majority of the clubs are in north and central Westmeath. MulIingar is the capital and centre of the county. Castletown,Brígids,Fr Dalton's and Southern Gaels provide about six or seven of the 35 strong hurling panel.I believe we need to do a deal with some of the clubs around Athlone to develop something but Rome wasn't built in a day. I take your points about southern parts of the county being detached from the board but have to ask how many of the people in the south put themselves forward for election? Tom Farrell Tang was chair followed by Sean Sheridan but the last three have all been from the north.
Lomans astro was developed in Farrell's time."
Agree on this; the million or so that was raised would probably go a long way to developing excellent pitches in Harbour Field for example, maybe Moate CS or Marist pitches down south and maybe the old Rochfortbridge grounds. All of a sudden you have three excellent pitches throughout the county. I think having readily available playing surfaces would be invaluable to all the age groups at county level.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 189 - 16/12/2025 17:07:51    2648578

Link

Replying To nadunta2025:  "Hard luck to Tubberclare at weekend our countys last hope in leinster, no Westmeath team has ever won it and i think at 50 mins in i would have backed them to see out the game by 2-3 points but momentum swung against them, cannot afford to have 3 fouls against the new rules, a couple of calls went against them and then 2 sucker punch goals when they probably should have had a chance of a 2-pointer to make it a 2 point game with 5 minutes to go. Lomans the last to come very close, The Downs obviously beaten a few years ago. Outside of Garrycastle when was the last final outing at any Grade? Actually forgot about Multy.

Maybe 2 smaller COE's is the way forward, cant call it COE in any case, Put 3 pitches in Mullingar, 3 Pitches in Athlone."
Great idea; develop maybe Marist and Moate CS. Floodlights and top playing surfaces. Guarantee a venue year round for teams; likewise with somewhere like Harbour Field and St Finians.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 189 - 16/12/2025 18:33:04    2648583

Link

Lads do you even know the point of a centre of excellence. It's a one location hub so all the teams are in the one location. They have a base, a home. Somewhere that is theirs. Helping developing pitches is actually a good idea but doesn't help the Coe. Coe is also for the development, minor and u20 squads.

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 121 - 17/12/2025 07:11:50    2648602

Link

Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "Lads do you even know the point of a centre of excellence. It's a one location hub so all the teams are in the one location. They have a base, a home. Somewhere that is theirs. Helping developing pitches is actually a good idea but doesn't help the Coe. Coe is also for the development, minor and u20 squads."
Correct and will include a gym etc for all county players in due course.
Also important to remember that this is for all codes male and female so lots of pitches needed.
Bi-location in a relatively small county doesn't make sense to me.
Interesting to see Longford are at the same stage - land purchased near Pearse Park with planning to be lodged early 2026 according to reports.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1226 - 17/12/2025 10:16:00    2648614

Link

Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "Lads do you even know the point of a centre of excellence. It's a one location hub so all the teams are in the one location. They have a base, a home. Somewhere that is theirs. Helping developing pitches is actually a good idea but doesn't help the Coe. Coe is also for the development, minor and u20 squads."
Nonsense, it's about providing guaranteed facilities to all our county teams all year without begging clubs to allow them to train. It doesn't matter if there's more than one location, what's important is giving adequate facilities for all our teams. Do you really think it defeats the purpose if development squads and senior teams aren't training in the same facility?

Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 17/12/2025 10:42:11    2648620

Link