Dunganny gaa facilities officially opened

Former long-serving Meath GAA Co Board chairman Fintan Ginnity was one of many special guests mentioned by current chairman Conor Tormey at the official opening of the flagship Centre of Excellence at Dunganny on Saturday evening (19th September) as the culmination of a project that began in 2001 was concluded.

The official opening of the Meath GAA training centre was the final act in a day-long series of activities that included non-stop under-age games on the many pitches at the venue which is located beside the main raod half-way between Trim and Navan close to the junction for Robinstown/Bective/Kilmessan.

Among the invited guests present for the occasion were GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail, Leinster Council president John Horan, Bishop Michael Smith while former Co Board PRO Brendan Cummins was the MC for the occasion.

The impressive orange coloured building is certainly eye-catching to passing motorists and comprises six dressing rooms with a gym, office and meeting spaces, referees rooms, medical room and canteen.

The plans for the building were recommended by the Infrastructure Committee which included Noel Dempsey and Liam Mulvihill. Dempsey informed delegates at a Co Board meeting in 2013 that the plan was to have the building completed by September 2015.

It is understood that the project was completed on budget although the contractor was the victim of a number of thefts from the site of various items of plant and machinery.

Croke Park pledged a further €500,000 and Leinster Council €200,000.
The total cost of the building project was in the region of €2m plus fit out costs with funding sourced from Lottery, Croke Park and leinster Council.

Former chairman Fintan Ginnity got the ball rolling on the Dunganny Project back in 2001 when he followied up on a For Sale sign he spotted on the lands as he passed in his car and it emerged following contact with the auctioneerr, TE Potterton & Co that the land (23 acres) would be sold at auction.

Meath Co Board successfully bid for the land and soon after a further 29 acres adjoining the original 23 was purchased following negotiations between Fintan Ginnity and the owner, Patsy McGearty who was a player on the 1954 All-Ireland-winning Meath team.

Once agreement was reached with Patsy McGearty, the then treasurer of Meath Co Board Colm Gannon was despatched to pay the deposit.

The initial phase of development was completed at a total cost of €4.2 million. National Lottery funding of €1m was secured in 2006 and Croke Park contributed €500,000. Meath Co Board financed the remainder through a substantial bank loan.

Over the coming years the Centre of Excellence at Dunganny will host football and hurling from under-age to adult as well as schools action while it is anticipated that the forthcoming annual convention on Monday 7th December will take place in the well-appointed Dunganny meeting rooms.