Coolmore Dr Morris Park development right; ‘Church moving in communion towards history.
County Convention was rightly stood down at the weekend, a mark of respect following the devastating tragedy in Ballynonty that cruelly robbed two young lives, both deeply rooted in the fabric of Gaelic Games. Our heartfelt sympathies go to their families, friends and communities at this dark time.
Yet, in the days leading up to Convention, a number of issues had already begun to surface — issues that demand reflection, scrutiny and, above all, honest conversation. Few things spark public debate quite like accounts and expenditure. They draw the curious, the concerned and, inevitably, those who have never attended a committee meeting but feel compelled to mount the high horse and thunder about spending.
The reality, uncomfortable as it may be, is simple: running teams costs money. Running a county operation with multiple teams costs a great deal more. Like every other walk of life, the GAA is feeling the relentless squeeze of inflation. Corners cannot simply be cut without consequence — and it is doubtful there is a soul in Tipperary who would happily trade financial restraint for the surrender of Liam MacCarthy.
However, one figure that has rightly raised eyebrows is the cost associated with the upkeep of grounds — specifically Coolmore Dr Morris Park. The sum of €136,401 for the year, covering maintenance, services, wages and the like, is far from trivial. While no one disputes that quality facilities come at a price, it does prompt a pressing question: if that is the cost of maintaining the existing three pitches, what happens when the planned development doubles the number of fields? Logic suggests the bill will rise very sharply.
At present, the County Board is preparing a planning application for Tipperary County Council to develop the 14 acres so generously donated by Coolmore. The vision is ambitious: three additional pitches and a state-of-the-art complex constructed on Pitch 1 — the first field that greets you on entering Dr Morris Park. And herein lies the concern. It would be a crying shame to lose that pitch.
This is not some expendable strip of grass; it is a field into which serious investment has already been poured — floodlighting, seeding, sanding, drainage — all painstakingly developed over time. Every conceivable effort should be made to preserve it. If that requires relocating the proposed complex elsewhere on the site, then that option must be pursued with real intent, not casually dismissed.
The likely response, of course, will be that all alternative locations have been assessed and that Pitch 1 represents the best solution. Perhaps. But that should not end the discussion. Sacrificing a fully-functional, heavily-invested pitch to create a car park is a blunt solution when imagination and thoughtful design could yield better outcomes. There are pockets of space across the entire site that could accommodate parking. If the Board is serious about building a flagship Centre of Excellence, then it must also be serious about future-proofing it.
That means embracing environmental responsibility from the outset. Solar panels, rainwater harvesting, sustainable drainage systems such as rain gardens and run-off zones should be standard, not optional extras. Captured rainwater could service toilets or even irrigate pitches during dry summer months. Climate change is no longer an abstract concept — it is here, now — and developments of this scale must reflect that reality.
These measures are largely cost-neutral when incorporated at the planning stage; retrofitting later is vastly more expensive and infinitely more disruptive.
And speaking of climate resilience, it beggars belief that an all-weather astro-turf pitch is not central to this project. Surely it has been considered? An astro pitch would be the jewel in the crown of Coolmore Dr Morris Park.
With matches increasingly displaced to UL and Fethard due to weather-ravaged surfaces, it makes absolute sense to locate a full-size synthetic pitch at the very heart of the county. There is already a double-sided astro ball wall on site — why stop there? Previous plans to develop an astro pitch in conjunction with the TI (now Tús) appear to have stalled or have been shelved.
THE VIEW, therefore, is clear: Pitch 1 should be retained at all costs, and an astro-turf pitch must be included as part of the six-pitch vision. Yes, there will be objections. There will be explanations, counter-arguments and reasons why it “can’t be done”. There always are. But the real question is not why it can’t happen — it is whether there is the will to make it happen.
If that requires pressing pause on the planning to ensure every avenue is explored and every box truly ticked, then it will be time well spent. There will be only one opportunity to get this right. Once the concrete is poured, there is no turning back.
Make ‘the Church’ part of your Festive Season.
It is time for all of Tipp to rally as one and throw its full weight behind Upperchurch Drombane as they set their sights on an All-Ireland intermediate club championship semi-final next weekend. ‘The Church’ have travelled a road of twists and turns this year – stuttering out of the blocks in the county championship, before roaring back to life and finishing like an express train, momentum building with every stop, culminating in a historic provincial triumph that will live long in the memory.
Standing in their way now are Danesfort of Kilkenny, themselves history-makers after capturing the Leinster crown. There was deep emotion woven into that victory too, with captain and former Kilkenny great Paul Murphy lifting the provincial cup named in honour of his late father. Add former Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan to their ranks and it is clear this is a formidable, battle-hardened outfit. Upperchurch Drombane will need every ounce of steel, skill and spirit they possess to stay afloat in these testing waters.
The symmetry does not end there. Both sides don the same black and amber colours, a curious mirror that reflects not just jerseys but ambition, pedigree and belief. All week long, coach Liam Dunphy will drum one message into his players: they are on the brink of something truly special – the chance to run out in Croke Park on All-Ireland Club Final day. That prospect must fuel them, not freeze them; ignite them, not inhibit them; be seized with both hands, not allowed to slip quietly away. Best of luck to them – may they grasp their moment.