Connacht Air Dome a sanctuary and a beacon for the GAA

The launch of the 2024 Connacht SFC took place in the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome on Wednesday.

There are 210 clubs in the western province and it must be safe ground to suggest that the vast majority of them have by now played or trained in the venue.

With the weather so harsh over the past seven months, the Dome has been packed out every day.

But even if the weather had been more favourable it would have remained a hive of activity.

Quite simply, with its full-size GAA pitch and ability to transform into a venue for exhibitions, concerts and conferences, the Dome has become a beacon of light for the Association, especially in times of challenging weather.

It is a project that was almost 10 years ahead of its time in terms of finances and approach to sustainability.

Extensive research some years ago first led Connacht GAA to conclude that the optimal choice for the site and Bekan was an inflatable airdome and in late 2018, the province was among the first round of successful applicants for the Department of Rural and Community Development's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

In that fund Minister Michael Ring announced an award of €2.1m towards the construction of an air dome.

Central GAA funds presented the province with €700,000 while the Council themselves added another €300,00.

For a project that cost €3.1m, it is estimated that the current cost would be almost three times as much due to inflation and other economic factors.

Construction on the project began in October 2019 and nine months later, the largest sports air dome in the world was inflated.

A naming rights partnership with the University of Galway was later agreed for the venue that boasts a full-size indoor pitch, running track, fully equipped