[article]FAI to move offices

**thejollyrodger** · 18/09/2004, 8:32 AM

SOCCER : FAI to move offices
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=11443

THE FAI hope to move out of their present Merrion Square headquarters and out to Abbotstown some time next year.

Members of the association's National Council were told yesterday by Chief Executive Fran Rooney that the FAI is currently exploring opportunities at Abbotstown.

The FAI's stated ambition is to build a new headquarters complete with a national coaching academy and a small stadium at Abbotstown.

However, the pressure for space at their existing Merrion Square headquarters is so acute that the FAI are willing to move into temporary accommodation at Abbotstown.

This could be provided in the buildings currently used by the Department of Agriculture and the State Laboratories at Abbotstown. These will shortly start to become vacant.

No decision has yet been made by the FAI on what will happen to their premises at Merrion Square when they vacate it.

Sports Campus Ireland are currently talking to the various governing bodies as part of the preparation of a development control plan which will detail the location of each sporting facility at Abbotstown and the order of the phased construction of those facilities.

Gerry McDermott

Good to see that the FAI are finally moving out of Merrion Square. Hopefully they can leave all those tribal politics behind them when they go (reality check jollyrodger). The national team needs to train somewhere where all the kids are screaming at them.

**eirebhoy** · 18/09/2004, 2:45 PM

I live about 3 minutes walk from their current offices so if tickets for home games became available it was no hassle for me getting them. Saying that, they had to move to a bigger site.