City clubs anger as Salthill/Knocknacarra unveil plans for complex in Rahoon

A turf war looks set to get underway between Salthill/ Knocknacarra and the surrounding GAA clubs following a decision by the Seasiders to build a €1.3 complex outside its ecclesiastical parish boundaries at Mincloon, Rahoon.

Salthill/Knocknacarra’s members endorsed a motion last Monday night to proceed with the purchase of over 10 acres of zoned recreational and amenity land at Mincloon “with a view to developing two full-sized GAA pitches, subject to approval of the proper authorities”, according to a statement issued by the club to Tribune Sport on Wednesday.

The statement stated that the proposed development was for the youth of the community, highlighting the club fields in excess of 50 teams a week between football, hurling, camogie and ladies football. “The need for playing pitches has never been greater,” declared the club.

However, the surrounding clubs – St Michael’s and Barna (football) and Rahoon/Newcastle (hurling) – have expressed their concerns over the venture, and have chastised Salthill/Knocknacarra for not having the “common courtesy” to inform them they were seeking to develop facilities in their areas.

Aside from that though, they all believe another club, particularly one as successful as Salthill/Knocknacarra, coming into their district will have huge ramifications in terms of it being a drain on their playing resources.

“At the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with what Salthill are doing – there is no law against it – but what you are talking about is down the line,” said Barna Chairman John Flaherty, who outlined many of their playing members hailed from the Mincloon area.

“Boleybeg [national] school is just up the road and it is in our parish. We use the west side of Rahoon and they go to Boleybeg school and they play for us. My view is that if this development comes along there, there are no kids going to come out all the way back to Barna if there is a pitch in Mincloon.

“No parent is going to bring their kids back to us. Let’s say you live in Rahoon and your children go to Boleybeg school, where are you going to go on Saturday morning. You are not going to come back to Barna if there is a pitch right beside you.”

With St Michael’s and Rahoon/Newcastle expressing similar concerns, the three clubs came together to pen a letter to Galway GAA CEO John Hynes seeking clarification in relation to Salthill/ Knocknacarra GAA’s proposed infringement on their catchment areas.

“We genuinely believe if this proposed development takes place it will have a detrimental impact on the recruitment and advancement of GAA players and members alike in relation to the club outlined and, indeed, in relation to the development of GAA in both City and County into the future,” the letter stated.

The clubs outlined Salthill/Knocknacarra GAA currently has the use of a facility in the parish of Barna – two playing pitches and changing rooms at Cappagh Park – as well as the use of other facilities at ‘The Prairie’ on Dr Mannix Road and ‘McGrath’s Field’  on Shangort Road.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.