St Conleth's Park

Update: Planning permission granted for new clubhouse and widening of pitch to 'near croke park dimensions'. Great news, and the beginning of a hugely positive step.

Great news!
Not for us slow backs do,
Always love Newbridge's tight pitch.
Dressing rooms are beyond a joke do

The tight pitch in Newbridge , in my opinion, has not helped us at all in last 10 years. It has evened things up for of lot of average teams . An example would be when we almost got beaten V Antrim in 2010. Following week we skint them on big hurling pitch that was Casement Park. I think we play better on OMoore Park and Navan. Certainly pitch in Conleths is not good preparation for Croke Park. Be great to see the place touched up properly.

Agree. We seem to play better away from home these days, and struggle in conleths.

Would it cost a lot to stick a run-of-the-mill roof over a terrace or two? Never understand why GAA grounds never bother. (Also never understand why GAA grounds always knock the existing stand to build a new one, rather than building it across from existing stand and having two, although in our case I get the space and light issues with houses against far terrace.)

With the houses behind the terrace planning permission would be difficult as a roof would be very high in relation to the houses cutting off sun & light, just as planning was refused for lights on those grounds............ So stand & roof probably have to be on the other side..............

I often thought why they never roofed the Town End Terrace. Always a great view from that side and a roof would make it more attractive to stand on! Just picture the terrace behind the goal in Nowlan Park - all roofed!

On the opposite end - Athgarvan / Kilcullen end, there is absolutely no view of the pitch from that side. Too low and too far away from pitch itself. Hopefully by altering the dimensions of the field they intend to bring the pitch closer to that end and breaking down the block walls that surround the field!

the dubs getting a new 40000 seater at newlands cross selling parnell park ?

http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/gaelic/264168/exclusive-green-light-for-6m-updated-plan-for-st-conleth-s-park.html#.WYrrivGR2eY.twitter

A change of plan! Good news.

Few questions.

1. If not being placed on the clubs, where is €4.5m coming from? I know it says 10-year seats and naming and so on but given numerous factors the aim and reality don't add up for me.

2.  Was the problem with health and safety not partly due to terraces? Did this change or will they also be updated?

3. If a three-year project, can we play our home league games in Athy. Monaghan, Antrim and Cork have used club grounds across the secondary competition without complaint, can we and will we?

4. Lastly, and this isn't Kildare but a long-held gripe with GAA grounds being rip offs. Is this really bang for buck. A 6m stand? Look at what St Mirren recently built for 8m in terms of an entire stadium. Or Oxford United for a little more. Or Chesterfield. I could go on and on. I know dimensions are different but not to point of this. Essentially why can soccer clubs cross-channel build decent stadia for little more than the cost of what is a very basic stand?

TommyKeegan wrote:

Few questions.

1. If not being placed on the clubs, where is €4.5m coming from? I know it says 10-year seats and naming and so on but given numerous factors the aim and reality don't add up for me.

2.  Was the problem with health and safety not partly due to terraces? Did this change or will they also be updated?

3. If a three-year project, can we play our home league games in Athy. Monaghan, Antrim and Cork have used club grounds across the secondary competition without complaint, can we and will we?

4. Lastly, and this isn't Kildare but a long-held gripe with GAA grounds being rip offs. Is this really bang for buck. A 6m stand? Look at what St Mirren recently built for 8m in terms of an entire stadium. Or Oxford United for a little more. Or Chesterfield. I could go on and on. I know dimensions are different but not to point of this. Essentially why can soccer clubs cross-channel build decent stadia for little more than the cost of what is a very basic stand?

Athy does not meet health and safety standards

Although you can only welcome this especially the chance of floodlights being installed, I will stick by my opinion that I will believe it when I see the machines roll in and tear it down. Up until last night they had a three phase plan to complete the works for which I understand they had obtained planning permission to commence on the pitch and dressing rooms.
Now that planning has been thrown aside and they need to apply again. This as stated will take an extra six months, then they are hoping to get grants as in that article nothing has been guaranteed. They also hope to sell seats. Unless we start getting home championship games regularly whats the point. Sure you can turn up at any match and get a seat if you want.
Naming rights, how much will we be able to get for that if anyone actually wants to part with their cash for a stadium that never gets a big game in the summer. Lastly envisioned to have it complete in three years, lets be honest in Kildare GAA terms three years is a hell of a long time.

I'll believe when I'm sat in the new stands watching a game on a Saturday night.

That's unfortunately always the case in Ireland because planning is such an unknown. I presume they have had some discussions with people living around it but the floodlights could be an issue for residents for example.

As for the bigger costs, again, that's Ireland. Speak to any construction people that have worked in UK and here and it's different kettle of fish in terms of regulation, how workers and subbies are treated, cost - cowboy and screwing quotient much higher here.

So, it is only right to say - that sounds great, it's good to see they have a plan and congratulations on that - but it is a long way from being done. A lot of hurdles to clear yet but good start.

http://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/dublin-shelve-plans-for-45m-spawell-stadium-36063877.html

Change of plan by Dublin. Is this just a cry for help to see will Croke Park and Leinster Council approach and offer more to develop a 30k stadium??

Quite a bit of info in here from Kildare Now:

- naming rights
- cost of the development
- timelines
- funding including hopes for government grant
- bar for members
- Club Kildare memberships at €2,500 a pop.. that would have to be lifetime membership!

https://www.kildarenow.com/sport/kildare-gaa-sell-naming-rights-county-grounds-raise-funds-st-conleths-park-redevelopment/198669

Planning decision within 3-6 months

Development starting in April 2019 depends on finance available. 10. - 12 months to complete

Grounds to close no decision yet . If closed all Allianz Football and Hurling League games away in 2020

fone wrote:

Planning decision within 3-6 months

Development starting in April 2019 depends on finance available.  10. - 12 months to complete

Grounds to  close  no decision yet . If closed  all  Allianz Football and Hurling League games away in 2020

I don’t get that. If Donegal can play in Ballyshannon and Tipp in Clonmel surely we could play in Athy, Clane, Towers, Hawkfield? Even out a temporary stand up for the duration of the league somewhere if necessary. Cricket Ireland put up an entire temporary stadium in Malahide for matches. Or play on a neutral ground (Tullamore / Portlaoise). Don’t get why it has to be away?

Agree completely 365. Clonmel was some hole yet no issue playing there. A bit of fore planning and a temporary stand could be erected in Hawkfield for the league. Problem solved. To play all games away is a ridiculous suggestion.

Tullamore for me all day long..........!!

Rex wrote:

Agree completely 365. Clonmel was some hole yet no issue playing there. A bit of fore planning and a temporary stand could be erected in Hawkfield for the league. Problem solved. To play all games away is a ridiculous suggestion.

it’s rule from Croke Park but in 2021 league season Kildare have 7 home games .

What rule would prevent us playing in (say) Athy if Clonmel is deemed inter-County standard?

kildaregaa365 wrote:

What rule would prevent us playing in (say) Athy if Clonmel is deemed inter-County standard?

What about grassbanks on three sides fans not allowed on them under health and rules, Croke Park force London to play All their. League games away last year when Ruislip was being redeveloped this why they have all home games this year.

Didn't stop them playing the our game in Clonmel, where there was a cow shed for a stand and grass banking everywhere else. Not getting at you fone, but it all seem double standards where certain counties are concerned.

Either way I'll stick to my original assessment in that I'll believe it will be built when I'm sitting in it.

fone wrote:

kildaregaa365 wrote:

What rule would prevent us playing in (say) Athy if Clonmel is deemed inter-County standard?

What about grassbanks  on three sides fans not allowed on them under health and rules,  Croke Park force London to play All their. League games away last year when Ruislip was being redeveloped this why they have all home games this year.

Grass banks were in use in Ballyshannon no problem. Open construction area in fact behind one goal.