Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Hardly enough to keep the Dalymount cat fedQuote:
Originally Posted by SeanDMRooney
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Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Hardly enough to keep the Dalymount cat fedQuote:
Originally Posted by SeanDMRooney
The hipster in Phibsboro really need to reduce what they spend on cat food so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalymountrower
But on a serious note it allows a project that is far from shovel ready to proceed to the next stage
Don’t believe we got a discount for it from whoever did it. Also thought it was €130k.Quote:
Originally Posted by bohsmug
More on the Harps situation: http://www.donegalsporthub.com/total...IG6Dv1fvrXlStM
Fair to say Paul isn't overly happy with the situation.
Paul is no mug, would expect him to get the funding approved before the election.
Do all the current allocation of grants go out the window with the election ?
Money from qualifying for Europe mainly, also some sponsorship. Its called the VW Bank stand. It could badly do with a roof. Sligo is one of the wettest parts of the countryQuote:
Originally Posted by bohsmug
No, they are committed now so should be OK where they are allocated.
Meanwhile Harps have written to all local Dail candidates about stadium issue.
https://www.finnharps.ie/post/harps-...neral-election
Yeah I'd imagine even if it could be part-roofed it would be better than nothing. At 1,300 capacity, the stand is probably a bit too big. I noticed that even the aspirational plans for the old shed end don't include spectator accommodation as a priority, saying increased capacity is not needed. Whereas if the VW stand was a bit smaller there might be more of a push to have another small stand down that end. I really like the Showgrounds, it's really close to being all you could ever need in a LOI ground but for a few niggley things like the lack of roof and empty shed end. It's one of our best grounds IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Star
Responses from candidates and from the county council and FAI posted on site Harps site here: https://www.finnharps.ie/post/respon...-election-2020
The idea that was put about the day after the announcement from someone within department that the FAI and Council aren't backing us is dispelled here and the story about the economic appraisal not being there was total BS.
Interesting responses from the FG candidates there: the first seems to think there isn't really a problem because the application can be approved at any time, and the second wants to pass the buck to Donegal County Council, who, of course, are dominated by FG's opposition.
I'm ready to believe the worst of the Council.
I mean: anybody who uses Comic Sans in a formal letter is capable of anything.
First one just a kick to touch to get through election in my view. But the council coming aboard is a positive for sure and Harley is a genuine supporter of the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
Peter Fitzpatrick was canvassing outside Oriel on Thursday night. Asked him why he vetoed the ground development for Drogheda and Dundalk mid-louth and he claimed that Dundalk didnt want to be involved which scuppered the plan so hmmmmm!!, there was something about proximity to rail station but it was hard to keep up fully. He also said that now as County Chairman he will guarantee that Dundalk FC would have use of the County Ground if and whenever required. When suggested that that is a decision for GAA Congress rather than Louth Chairman he suggested that he would have enough sway in govt to get the GAA to play ball. So hmmmmmm!! (Harps fans should register to vote in Louth and get Fitzer elected as it seems he has significant clout - ground problems solved over night post election results). Thing is he is pretty well known for being an honest broker - maybe a term in office has turned him...
Sounds like a man saying anything to get re-elected. Which party is he? And isn't County Chairman primarily a ceremonial/figurehead role, rather than a power broker one?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
He was FG but is now running as an independent. He has a chance at the last seat due to the Gah support that got him elected last time out. I think it was highly ironic that he was canvassing outside a Dundalk v Drogheda game all things considered. I'm not that familiar with how exactly GAA is set up in Louth these days but I'd have thought the county delegate to Congress mattered more than the County Chairman. In the past the County Secretary was a law unto himself!
That said Fitzpatrick is very highly thought of in GAA circles in general and potentially being a TD also could be a benefit to (Louth) GAA. He seemed a bit caught on the hop as if it wasnt known that he lobbied against DkIT multisport stadium. He didnt hold back when asked about the conduct of the former County Secretary which for different reasons was refreshing. He was of course saying what needed to be said, but I was still quite surprised by his comments on the County Ground being made available at all as he has a reputation at least for not being an entirely self serving TD and generally seemed to stick by his principles irrespective of how popular they were or not. Do I think Dundalk will play in the new County Ground someday - yes it is likely at some point. Will it be a regularised agreement brokered by Fitzer I highly doubt it. As an aside he is dreadful whenever interviewed by various media, he isnt so bad in person. I would hope that I wasnt the only person who questioned his camaigning outside Oriel, like he is certainly entitled to but it was an opportunity to raise issues on Oriel Park to a potential elected TD. What was also of note was when the difficult questions were asked his 'team' distanced themselved and the smiles disappeared so they possibly anticipated a less than warm welcome from some quarters.
Cobh Ramblers running a GoFundMe as the St Colman’s Park dugout has been destroyed by Storm Ciara. A new one now*has to be put in before the start of the season, as well as the backing fence. Last thing we need so close to the opener.*Any donations are much appreciated.*https://www.gofundme.com/f/storm-cia...cp+share-sheet
For anyone unaware, the Shed in Richmond has been taken down
https://www.the42.ie/the-shed-st-pat...98761-Feb2020/
Fitzpatrick got elected in the end in Louth, and even though he is an ex DFC youth player (almost sure), he is GAA to the core, but certainly big into Dundalk town and FC also, so we'll see, but I still don't think he will have a veto over GAA council. I think you only have to look at the Liam Miller game to see the level the GAA are at, almost had to be begged to stand down.
On the ground itself, of course, absolutely nothing done during the winter to Oriel Park, they will go on about the 600k spent inside the YDC, new dressing rooms, new gym, new media room, players food hall etc, and all well and good and players looked after.
As for the fans, both home and away, it will be another season of just not acceptable, I honesty think the only way is for new LOI / FAI to impose minimum standards of say 3k covered seats, or withhold a PD licence, give any club like DFC a strict time limit to get it done, which would essentially force the owners to have no choice to make improvements.
It might work, but it shouldn't have to come down like this, but something needs to be done, its 2020 and we have a ground stuck in the 70's. Not good enough.
I don’t know where you’re getting the notion that he is big into Dundalk FC. The only time he appears at oriel is at the European games. He has zero interest in the club. And anyone who believed his nonsense in the run up to the election, that he’ll make sure we can use the GAA ground when we need it, is deluded.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
The only way stadia in Ireland will get improved is with strict capacity cuts, safe capacity figures, closing poor stands, refusing licences to unfit grounds forcing potential fround shares.
The onus is on clubs to apply for grants, and push for ground improvements. Sligo led the way for how they've done it. In other cases, approaching councils to do the work has also proven successful.
But licencing is too soft, safe capacity figures are too high in some cases, and others are just too comfortable in sub standard stadia.
To a point. As far as I know if the clubs wanted to apply for the sports grants they needed to apply through the FAI. Given what we know now it is hard to know what happened with grants and where any money went. Hopefully that will change now.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
You mentioned The Showgrounds improvements. Its far from perfect tbh, but when we had our success we put money into infrastructure. The money came from prize money but some cute people in the club also used the success/ good will to get local companies to invest. There was no huge donations but they all added up if you can get enough people. As well as that The Showgrounds is probably as important to Sligo Rovers fans as the club is. Maybe that sounds odd but there couldn't be one without the other. The fans bought it, its ours same as the club and the people of Sligo are extremely proud of that, so fans are willing to invest in it. Which probably isint the same for any other club in the league.
On the above- it's true that clubs now have to apply via FAI. For the Harps project we had to reapply when old National Development Plan ended and new one began via the FAI.
Piece in Irish Times on Harps and league's general situation. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...urse-1.4168910
Cobh have raised almost 2k for their dugouts. Nice to see LOI fans helping one of the smaller clubs
Drogs looking into installing an artificial pitch in United Park. If its a good quality one it's probably a smart move for the club given the FAI probably won't be in a position to help with their potential new ground anytime soon and I remains to be seen where the government will spend whatever money it has left after this.
https://twitter.com/DroghedaUnited/s...099549184?s=19
Oh the irony!! During a survey of United Park when working with LCC Terry Collins (I think is his surname) stated that Drogheda United would never need to opt for an artificial surface as unlike Dundalk they didnt need the additional income from pitch rental. He spent more time taking swipes at Dundalk than he did on DUFC being reigning champions for the 1st time. I wouldnt mind bumping in to him again to ask his thoughts on the matter!Quote:
Originally Posted by RathfarnhamHoop
As we all know too well, the time it takes for stadium development can be eternal. That said Id question the thinking behind spending signiicant money installing a new pitch in United Park when plans for a move away from United Park are quite progressed since LCC provided a new site. DUFC must not consider the move feasible which is a little odd as the Dept of Health have been jumping up and down waiting to acquire United Park for expansion to the hospital. All pre covid-19 costs of course.
Agree with the second part, don't know the ins and outs regarding the site but if it's secure you'd imagine it would make more sense to build the artificial pitch there now, even if there's nothing else there bar maybe prefabs for changing rooms and toilets. You'd have the same income potential but much lower overheads in the longer term I'd imagineQuote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
I never thought a new stadium would have been built in Drogheda, just don't see what demand there is for it, but it is a pity there is almost no scope for development where they are. Maybe if they knocked one side down completely that might work. They also need to re-apply for that bar licence, thats a ridicolous waste of revenue being idle for so long.
As for the artificial pitch, thanfully these are now mostly good standard, the two DFC had from 2005 up to end of 2017 were not good, especially the former one. The version they installed in Jan/Feb 2018 was at least a good quality, then again you get what you pay for, that cost 500k I think. The version that Derry have is the same I think. One to note that is the worst quality from this era is outside the league, Cliftonville, looks dreadful.
On the subject of renting these out, not so sure thats a goer these days, as most big GAA clubs have ones now, and demand is down, I don't even think Dundalk rent it out, as its used daily for training for home games, even in the week for away games when they use the grass pitch behdin the away goal, they would stiill be 'on site'. plus I think the main other users are now for community purposes.
I think after C-19 there will be a big scale back in public funding, we could all be back to another income levy (700k currently in receipt of some sort of welfare - its not free money), so not sure they'll be much left over for anything other than modest sports grants, stadia funding will be well down a long list, if not completely cancelled.
Any development at United Park is a non-runner, similar to the County ground proposal behind United Park. There is recognition that this would permantly landlock OLOL. They want the site but want ownership straight off. DUFC wanted a new ground open before vacating U.P. So things stalled for a while for that and that LCC would then look for some payment for the site provided out of sny sale money. The solution proposed was a groundshare possibly at Oriel while the new place was being worked on. DUFC didnt seem to want to groundshare and tbh if it was to do with needing gate receipt income I can understand that as attendances would be nonexistant especially if playng in Dundalk.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
The planned devekopment is one 2k capacity stand and associated works which would be sufficient especially if a Limerick style stand or one behind goal terrace for away support was also done with a small stand allocation to away fans. The days of DUFC planning a complete new ground (with 30k housing and retail units - yes 30k) have finally been binned and one stand would do. There is still a possibility of their project happening in the medium term as they have a willing buyer for their ground already and the FAI generously agreed that all the would want is the £30k that they payed for United Park to bail DUFC out of trouble early 90s. The FAI were looking to change that agreement a few years ago I preesume to try and eek out a slice of the sale for their own coffers, but the original agreement is nw being honoured. Im sure United Park would sell at a decent price to get at least the basics of a new ground in place so with not being entirely dependant on SCG I just think it odd to be investing circa €500k on something that could be torn up again in the future. As RH said, installing it at the new site would make more sense to me albeit not knowing the ins and outs of it all. There isnt the same level of demand for pitch rental that there was when Oriel had the pitch installed but there is some demand and a saving in maintenance and renting training facilities.
Obviously Louth isn't on the same scale as Dublin but here all artificial pitches are in near constant use, tends to part of planning permission for floodlights that pitches be open to wider community.
Obviously being a LOI club the status of the first team will determine when they train so will determine who they target to use the pitch.
DIFE has just put in an artificial pitch and its practically beside United Park. Drogheda Grammar School have one also, there are a few small 5 a side pitches. Certainly no municipal facility. There is a shortage of full size picthes of any type in Drogheda (Drogheda Town FC and DUFC even push the 'full size' limit though are good surfaces) so it could be an earner but again mainly if it is not in U.P. Having 2 picthes within a few minutes walk if one goes in to United Park wouldnt be ideal.
The Astro Dome at DkIT Sport doesnt seem to have the demand it used to but I havent been there during an evening. I also thought that it was Dundalk FC that cut back on Oriel pitch availability as much as a lack of demand - those floodlights I sure cost a good bit to run and they are on nearly every evening. There is the municipal pitch at Dundalk Sports Centre that is busy in the evenings.
Scannal programme on RTE1 tonight is covering the Bertie Bowl at 8pm. It could be interesting, there is certainly a story here and how things get done in Ireland. I remember being against it at the time. Reason being I wanted soccer to have our own ground, but mostly due to the arrangement where the consultant/project manager was paid on the basis of a percentage of the cost. So the higher the cost the more the consultant got paid.
Looking back, I think Bertie might have had the right idea. Did the state really get value for money from the Aviva? A large stadium owned by the FAI was never realistic I feel now. Loads of other questions as well, the interest of some of the opponents etc. Be interesting how much the programme covers anyway.
Yeah I remember this controversy all right but never fully understood it. Cheers for the reminder will watch this!Quote:
Originally Posted by wonder88
Was the Bertie Bowl programme any good? Learn anything?
I suppose there wasn't much new in it, for those who remember the times. No discussion at all on the lucrative consultant contract, which I think was fairly central to the saga. The offer of 11 million for the league of Ireland/grassroots to get on board with the Campus was a quite substantial sum, if put into facilities could certainly have a positive effect. Interesting to see a certain John Delaney of the anti-Eircom Park side of the FAI explain how they saved the organisation from going bankrupt. This i suppose was the highlight.
There is an extended interview with Bertie on the rte player, which I haven't watched yet.
It would have been impossible to cover the story in any detail in 30 minute programme anyway.
I've no idea of your age, or profession, so you could be much better placed to debate this than me, but I don't really think the consultancy contract was anything to do with it. The simple fact of the matter was that Croker was planning towards being a fully-seated stadium (the GAA were exploring the Hill End possibilities), the IRFU was going to be redeveloping Lansdowne at some point, and the idea of the FAI going alone on a modestly sized stadium, would have put paid to any dreams of a Bertie Bowl.Quote:
Originally Posted by wonder88
I think - but could be wrong - that eircom Park was being built on a site the FAI owned (out at Newlands-ish) and wasn't going to be a huge stadium by any stretch of the imagination (think 38-40k was the capacity).
It would have been an infinitely better deal than the one we've ended up with, whereby we are broke anyway, but only have a temporary leasehold.
I read as well that the Bertie Bowl would have been spec'd out to cater for GAA as well, which would have made football matches as horrible in it, as they were in Croker.
It is one of the things that absolutely sickens me, is the use of land and resources at home.
Yeah correct as the documentary said that the FAI site would have being at Citywest which is the exact same area. I thought it was an excellent documentary at it summed up the whole deal perfectly!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
The FAI didn't own the land Eircom Park was to be on, had an option. It is where City West Hotel is. The IRFU owned land at Newlands Cross, but at the time they were fully behind the Bertie Bowl. Sold it over a year ago for 25million profit.
Good article here on the saga https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020...e-bertie-bowl/
The contract for the consultant, where the bigger the cost the more she got paid, had a big negative influence on public opinion towards the project. Also awarding the contract to run the swimming pool to a shelf company didn't help either.
Bertie current proposal for 25,000 capacity stadium for Dublin has some merit, could be handy for League of Ireland teams in Europe etc.
You'd need a pretty big "etc" to justify that stadium. Probably Legia, Juve and Spurs are the only two games in the past decade that could have been moved to a 25k ground - and even then there's a strong argument to keep games in Tallaght/Oriel where possible for home advantage.
FAI Cup finals and pre-season friendlies v example Chelsea last summer. Dublin gaa footballers league games. Other inter-county gaa, plus athletics.