Clubs express interest in utilising land to be leased to Riverstown FC

A number of local sports clubs have contacted officials from Riverstown FC following its announcement that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has agreed to lease a tract of land, previously earmarked for a centre of excellence, to the Glanmire-based club.

A club spokesperson told The Echo that a number of organisations had expressed an interest in utilising the lands.

On Wednesday evening, the club announced that it had “reached an in-principle agreement with the FAI to sublease the lands at Brooklodge previously earmarked for the Football Centre of Excellence site”.

In a statement, it said: “The FAI board have confirmed to Cork County Council that they wish to sublet the site to Riverstown Football Club.

“Having carried out due diligence on Riverstown FC, Cork County Council is satisfied that we have the financial capacity, good governance, approved borrowing facility, a sports capital grant application, the backing of the FAI, and a growing membershipwhich combine to enable us to develop a portion of the lands which will serve a significant portion of the community that currently avail of facilities outside of the Glanmire area.

“In addition, the financial savings that we will make when we are in a position to no longer use external facilities will enable us to service the cost of the development.”

The statement on Facebook added: “Cork County Council intend to accede to the request of the FAI in this regard on condition that the area of the site not utilised by Riverstown FC will be quantified and masterplanned for the wider community.”

The club said the details will be finalised over the coming weeks “which will deliver a huge boost to both Riverstown FC and the wider community”.

It is understood that the next step will be for the FAI decision to be approved by Cork County Council at a full meeting.

Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke said he had been involved in a meeting at the Sarsfields GAA clubhouse in Glanmire last August when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar heard from representatives of a large number of local clubs about their needs for facilities.

“That meeting did precipitate a further urgency on the matter,” said the TD, adding that the Department of the Taoiseach had contacted the FAI and, simultaneously, a motion proposed at the time by Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry, led the council to also contact the sporting body.

Padraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD in Cork North Central, said he was relieved that something was finally happening with the site.

“It’s great that it’s benefitting a local sporting organisation,” he said.

“And I’m encouraged that the remainder of the site which won’t be utilised by Riverstown will now be used for community/amenity purposes.”