Latest: Tánaiste 'annoyed' at proposal to rename Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh
It is reported that three other companies will assume stadium branding privileges and it is understood that the package for these rights will be for an initial three years for a reported €1 million up to 2026.
THE Tánaiste has said he is "deeply disappointed" and "annoyed" at a proposal to rename Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
He tweeted: "Deeply disappointed & annoyed at the proposal to change the name of Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium.
He pointed to Government funding allocated to the stadium during its rebuild and said the State "never sought naming rights"
"Pádraig Uí Chaoimh was a key figure in the formation of the GAA at club and national level.
"Govt allocated €30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights."
The Lord Mayor of Cork has said he hopes a compromise can be made in a naming rights deal for Páirc Uí Chaoimh which is due to be tabled for County Board delegates to ratify this evening.
It comes as retail giants SuperValu will assume the first naming rights for the iconic Leeside stadium, according to reports.
The venue is one of the association's landmarks, named after former GAA director general Pádraig Ó Caoimh who led the GAA for 35 years.
The reports that three other companies will assume stadium branding privileges and it is understood that the package for these rights will be for an initial three years for a reported €1 million up to 2026.
Speaking to , Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy recognised SuperValu and its contribution to the community in Cork but also highlighted the importance of “history and place” and recognising Pádraig Ó Caoimh’s legacy.
“What we have in the city today is a debate between future-proofing Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s sponsorship versus civic pride and civic history, that’s what’s breaking on Leeside,” he said.
“Then on the other hand, you’ve got a name like Páirc Uí Chaoimh which is synonymous with Cork. If you mention Páirc Uí Chaoimh or Shandon anywhere up the country people go ‘yeah, Cork’. So, you’re dealing with a piece on civic pride as well in Cork, and civic history, civic heritage, and civic memory.”
The Lord Mayor said that as a historian, he believes “we need to be careful with what we do” and suggested that a compromise would be to name the stadium SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“The other element is we could call it SuperValu Páirc but then in five years’ time SuperValu may say we have done our five years and now we are going to move on so then it is renamed again and again in another five years so the Páirc keeps changing and it means an awful lot to people.
“But I fully appreciate that the GAA needs money to get out of the €30 million debt, there’s no mistake in that.
“My call would be that I hope a compromise could be found this evening that the SuperValu sponsorship can be honoured and the legacy of Pádraig Ó Caoimh can be honoured as well.”
Meanwhile, the grandson of Pádraig Ó Caoimh, Dónal Ó Caoimh, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night to say he had learned of the decision through the media.
“As Padraig O'Caoimh's grandson, I’m just learning about this decision tonight through the media. Nobody from the GAA reached out to me to tell me this was being discussed. I’m in shock and saddened tonight,” he posted.
Fine Gael councillor for Cork City South-East Des Cahill said: “While the additional funding for the Pàirc is welcome, and Musgraves is a great Cork company, I think people will for many years still refer to the stadium as Pàirc Uí Chaoimh. But overall, a great partnership between two great Cork institutions.”
Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, whose family is steeped in the GAA, said: “I think the decision to rename the stadium SuperValu Páirc is wrong. I think it goes against the ethos and the amateur community status of the association.
“It’s commercialising the GAA. It’s about the whole history behind the association and what we stand for. There’s a drive towards commercialism and professionalism and that’s not what the association is about. What makes the GAA so unique and special is our amateurism and our community.”
Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent said that a lot of GAA members were “stunned” to learn of the decision on Monday night.
He said Pádraig Ó Caoimh did huge work in growing the GAA in Cork and that he “encapsulated” everything about the GAA in terms of “being a republican and promoting our Gaelic games”.
Labour Party candidate for Cork City South East Ward Peter Horgan said he had concerns that the family of the late Padraig Ó Caoimh were unaware of this proposal until it hit the media.
“The name of our most famous stadium in Cork will always be Páirc Uí Chaoimh to me as will the Blackrock end of the stadium, no matter what deals are done on sponsorship,” he said.
“I hope the County Board and its delegates reflect on the outpouring seen from the general public these last 24 hours on the matter at their meeting this evening."
The grandson of Pádraig Ó Chaoimh, Dónal Ó Caoimh, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night to say he had learned of the decision through the media.
“As Padraig O'Caoimh's grandson, I’m just learning about this decision tonight through the media. Nobody from the GAA reached out to me to tell me this was being discussed. I’m in shock and saddened tonight,” he posted.”
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