FAI Centre of Excellence - Cork City training facility

[nigel-harps1954]

Cork County Council reaches agreement with the FAI on Centre of Excellence development

The Football Association of Ireland today confirmed that it has reached agreement with Cork County Council on land for the development of a Centre of Excellence in Glanmire.

The agreement has been reached following representations and extensive work with Cork County Council in recent months. The agreement provides for a 99 year lease on a 30 acre site in Glanmire that the FAI intends to develop as a Centre of Excellence to serve the Munster region.

The facility will support the development of young players operating within the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme and will be an important infrastructural addition for the development of players of all ages, coaches and referees within the province. It is intended that the facility will be used as a training venue for Cork City FC, as well as a home match venue for its underage teams.

Welcoming the announcement today, FAI CEO John Delaney said, “This agreement is a very positive development for football in Munster. I would like to recognise the support of Minister Alan Kelly, Senator John Gilroy, Cork County Council CEO, Tim Lucey, and Pat Lyons, Chairman of FORAS, who were invaluable in securing the agreement. Work will now turn towards developing the site for the benefit of the game regionally and nationally in the coming years.”

FAI President Tony Fitzgerald added, “As a Cork man, it gives me great pleasure to welcome this development, which stands to enhance much of the good work that it being done at all levels within the game in the Munster region. I would particularly like to thank all of the political representatives involved for their desire to assist us in reaching an agreement.”

Commenting on the announcement Chairman of FORAS – Cork City FC Pat Lyons said, “There have been two major developments in Cork soccer, which together will ensure that soccer is sustainable in Cork into the future. The foundation of FORAS, which is a trust owned and run by the supporters of Cork City FC, and now for the first time in the history of Cork soccer, thanks to this development, a Cork club will have a permanent base. In the past five years since FORAS took charge there have been some great milestones but this has been a major achievement, not only for Cork City FC but for the wider Cork community and indeed the Munster region in general.”

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr John Paul O’Shea said how delighted he was that the FAI’s Centre of Excellence will be located in Cork. “Cork has a proud sporting tradition and has produced many great icons from Christy Ring and Jimmy Barry Murphy to Roy Keane, Ronan O’Gara and Sonia O’Sullivan. Our great county has achieved past successes through enormous dedication and hard work, which have long been cornerstones of the Cork mentality. It is fantastic to see that through the collaboration of Cork County Council, the FAI and local stakeholders, Munster will have a world class facility to nurture talent and provide development opportunities for generations to come.”
The Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey said, “The selection of Cork, and particularly the location at Glanmire, by the FAI to develop this regional centre of excellence recognises not just the strategic positioning of the location but also the wider strengths of Cork for sports development and the capacity of the wider economy. We have worked with the FAI over the past year to facilitate this, and the full support of the members of Cork County Council demonstrates the Council’s proactive approach to continuing to strengthen Cork’s leisure, community and economic offering.”

Commenting after the announcement, the Chair of the Cobh Municipal District Cllr Sinead Sheppard added, “I am really delighted that Cork County Council has played an important role in providing an FAI Centre of Excellence for Munster. Cork’s rich sporting history is the envy of many, and this facility will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to enjoy great success into the future”

What does this mean for Bishopstown?

[Real ale Madrid]

What does this mean for Bishopstown?

Bishopstown is owned by McCarthy Developments - Cork City are just renting there.

[nigel-harps1954]

Bishopstown is owned by McCarthy Developments - Cork City are just renting there.

For some reason I'd always thought Cork City owned that complex. Assume it'll pretty much go unused now then?

[El-Pietro]

For some reason I'd always thought Cork City owned that complex. Assume it'll pretty much go unused now then?

It'll be a few years before this is completed, but McCarthy Dev have planning permission to build student accomodation on Bishopstown so we've been looking for something permanent for the past few years.