Páirc Tailteann re-development plans shape up

Meath GAA Co Board announced ambitious plans last April for a proposed €9 million re-development of Pairc Tailteann into a 21,000-seater stadium.

To get the project off the ground, the Co Board sought support from clubs to finance the initial estimated €300,000 cost of preparing detailed plans for the overall project.

That process is now almost complete and an application for planning permission will be submitted at the beginning of December.

The masterplan for the new stadium shows an all-seater stadium with stands on four sides with a capacity of about 22,000.

SEAMUS KENNY

“We expect to be able to lodge a planning application early next month, but not before we have an information meeting for all our neighbours, all the clubs and the general public,” Meath GAA operations manager Seamus Kenny told the Meath Chronicle. 

“This is an exciting project, not just for the GAA, but also for the people of Navan.

“It has the potential to revitalise that part of the town with an iconic building, new public realm spaces and the possibility of creating a new streetscape and it will enhance the plans already outlined in the Council’s Navan 2030 Plan,” he added.

LIAM MULVIHILL

“The brief we got originally was to produce a costed plan for the development of Páirc Táilteann into a modern, “best in class” stadium over a reasonable period of time, with a 20,000 seated capacity or a mix of seated and standing, designed so it can be built in phases as finance becomes available,” stated Liam Mulvihill, a member of the infrastructure committee and former director general of the GAA.

“The clubs and Co Board were anxious that we produce a masterplan for the complete development of the stadium and when we spoke to Meath County Council they wanted the same, an overall picture of what Páirc Táilteann will look like fully completed. That is what we produced,” he said.

“What we decide to build will depend on the finance available to us. Croke Park has restricted us to a €10 million spend, including Leinster Council and Croke Park grants (€4m), which means that the first phase build will be restricted to a 4,000 seat stand unless we can get grants elsewhere,” he added.

NOEL DEMPSEY

"There are ambitious plans for a commercial fundraising committee to raise €2m plus in a number of schemes within two years, the Co Board will be raising about €250,000 per annum and clubs are being asked to commit to a draw to assist,” according to the third member of the infrastructure committee Noel Dempsey.

CONOR TORMEY

Co Board chairman Conor Tormey explained why the development is absolutely essential.

“Páirc Táilteann is no longer fit for purpose and we are losing out on significant games because of this,” stated the outgoing chairman who will step down from his role next month under the five-year rule.

“The problem will be exacerbated from next year with the new Super 8 structure, we could end up like Waterford in the hurling, having to play our home game outside the county.

“When we return to the NFL Div 1 we could also have venue difficulties.

“I know that the task looks daunting, but that did not deter our predecessors from taking up the challenge in the past,” he added.

Meath Co Board will hold a special meeting for club officials on Monday 27th November at Dunganny to finalise discussions on fundraising for the project.