Real rewards on hold as first media-less Cork County Board meeting takes place

Páirc Uí Chaoimh remains just that – any ‘real rewards’ that Cork County Board were hoping would accrue from a stadium naming deal with SuperValu will have to wait.

On Monday, news broke that that an agreement was close at hand with the retail chain and on Tuesday, ahead of the first county board meeting of the year, discourse was dominated by the repercussions. Central to these was the fact that the name of Pádraig Ó Caoimh, the former GAA president, would seemingly be expunged from the official title for at least three years.

The topic was covered on RTÉ1’s Prime Time and Marty Morrissey canvassed delegates as they entered the meeting room – that was as far as media were allowed, following an edict from the Cork executive which was publicised last Friday.

Some delegates did speak up in favour of the poor begotten press but new chairperson Pat Horgan expressed disappointment at how certain in-camera items at meetings last year had still ended up in the media. He told delegates that he would take ownership of the decision.

And yet, even if the fourth estate had been present, they wouldn’t have had much to go on as the shopping list hadn’t been fully written, so to speak.

Whether the reaction – extreme in parts – to the SuperValu news was a factor, we can’t say, but there was a view in some quarters that a compromise of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh – or renaming a stand as Ardán Uí Chaoimh – would go some way to quelling the anger.

A brief statement from the board confirmed that the checkout would not be reached:

“Cork GAA can confirm that it is in discussions with SuperValu regarding the naming rights for Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

"While no matter had been finalised prior to the meeting of delegates to the county board on Tuesday evening, both sides have been conscious of the public debate that followed recent speculation in the media.

“SuperValu and Cork GAA remain committed to continuing their engagement, as both parties share a common interest in supporting Gaelic games across the county, and discussions are continuing.”

Encouraging news with regard to the stadium was the information that premium seat sales have now reached 1,909 of a total of 2,200 while 86 pitchside signs have been locked down.

There were also some administrative matters to be dealt with. Denis Harrington (St Finbarr’s) was elected as the representative of senior clubs on the county executive. John O’Mahony (Macroom) remains as intermediate delegate while Clann na nGael’s John O’Donovan continues as junior delegate and Derek Connolly (Brian Dillons/Seandún) was re-elected as divisional delegate.

Willie Ring (Imokilly) and Denis Kelleher (Sarsfields) will serve as Cork’s delegates for the upcoming GAA Congress and training for upwards of 90 stewards will take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday from 9am-2pm.

Borrowing was approved for developments by both Ballygarvan and Kilworth, while Kilbrin received permission to erect a mast at their grouns.