‘No begging bowl’ on Páirc Uí Chaoimh debt, as Cork County Board prepare to sell land on the northside

MUNSTER Council chairman Jerry O’Sullivan is confident the Cork County Board will clear the Páirc Uí Chaoimh debt within the predicted two-year time-frame.

The redevelopment of the Páirc cost €86m, leaving a debt of €23m, but yesterday in an interview with the Irish Examiner outgoing board chairman Ger Lane argued solid plans are in place to cover the shortfall.

This includes the sale of 21 acres of a 37-acre landbank at Kilbarry, adjacent to Delanys GAA club, which was rezoned recently from light industrial to development. The land, near Delanys club on the northside, could be worth between €15m and €20m. Premium ticket sales, concerts and the sale of naming rights to the Páirc will also help.

“The shortfall was a slight hiccup, but it is crystal clear the board have their work done in identifying how they are going to generate the necessary finance and I have no doubt they will,” said Cloyne native and former Cork chairman O’Sullivan.

“There’ll be no begging bowl going around. There is a clear plan there. It is noticeable it did run over cost, but, then again, that is the case for a significant number of large projects.

“I was involved in this project at the beginning and it is fantastic to see the finished product. It is a superb stadium that will play host to a countless number of big games in the years to come.”

Cork received €53.75m in funding for the regeneration of their flagship venue, with the Government forwarding €30m, €20m from GAA coffers and €3.75m from Munster Council. This was topped up by the €10m Cork had saved over the years towards the project.