Clubs and delegates react to Cork GAA delaying decision on Páirc Uí Chaoimh naming rights

AT the end of a lengthy monthly Cork County Board meeting at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night, there was no white smoke regarding the naming rights deal for the stadium presented to club delegates.

There has been a mixed reaction on Leeside since The Irish Examiner first reported the news on Monday evening that Páirc Uí Chaoimh would be renamed SuperValu Park or Páirc. The large attendance of club delegates at the iconic Leeside stadium, with debt north of €30 million, were given the chance of expressing their views and a robust meeting was held by all accounts, at the first County Board meeting of 2024, and the first without the presence of the media after the decision of Cork GAA’s management to ban media from attending and reporting from county committee meetings.

Both SuperValu and Cork GAA have committed to “continuing their engagement”, according to a statement released by Cork GAA on Tuesday night, but it looks like it’s on hold for now. The County Board had hoped to approve the new rights deal for Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but it has now apparently been taken off the table.

Speaking in the aftermath of Tuesday's night’s meeting, Ballymartle chairman Don Lordan had mixed opinions on the name change.

“There has been a lot of talk over the past 24 hours, and to be fair you can see both sides of the argument. The real problem here is that the County Board are in debt of somewhere around €30m, and that’s a big issue not just for them, but for all of us. I do think it could have been handled better over the last few days. Páirc Uí Chaoimh is an historic name and when people say it, you know that the stadium is in Cork, so I didn’t agree with the name SuperValu Park. It will probably be revisited down the road, but keeping Chaoimh in the stadium name is hugely important I feel, and also sponsorship money to help the board bring down the debt.” 

Inniscarra delegate Enda Linehan, who has been attending monthly meetings for the bones of ten years, also had a similar view.

“Everyone knows we have a debt in Páirc Uí Chaoimh,” she said.

“We need to get as much funding and sponsorship as possible to try and reduce that debt. We have to be realistic in that if you look at other GAA stadiums in Ireland, you have Wexford’s called Chadwicks Park, Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan and TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. That’s what we have to look at as well. The public are unhappy about the name, but talks are still going on, so as far as I am concerned, I would be hoping the parties involved will come to a situation where we can call it SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which is the ideal scenario.” 

Sarsfields president Denis Hurley, who has been involved in the GAA for nearly 80 years, didn’t want to go into a lengthy discussion, but wasn’t happy with how the County Board handled the situation.

“Firstly, I was disappointed that the proposal came in the way it did on Monday evening before delegates at the monthly meeting on Tuesday. I would be far happier if the proposal included SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. I am not happy with the way the news was leaked with so much information on Monday. It’s a hugely important matter and delegates should have an opportunity to think about it.” 

The stadium named after former GAA director General, Pádraig Ó Caoimh who, during his 35-year tenure, doubled the number of registered clubs in the country, his grandson Donal Ó Caoimh gave The Echo his reaction to the developments of Tuesday night.

“I am relieved that the Cork County Board did not approve the renaming rights of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to SuperValu Páirc last night as no vote was taken and Cork GAA are continuing discussions. Hopefully now this time will give an opportunity for reflection and debate on how we can both safeguard the sustainable health of Cork GAA and also retain my grandfather’s legacy and his place in the hearts and identity of the Irish people.

“I greatly appreciate the coverage the media has given to this issue especially in light of the banning of the media from Cork County Board meetings. I look forward to further open and transparent public debate in the coming days.” Donal concluded.