Cork mayor hopes for compromise on Páirc Uí Chaoimh naming rights

Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy is hoping a compromise will be found to allow Páirc Uí Chaoimh remain as part of the name for the iconic GAA venue on Leeside.

On Monday evening it was reported by The Irish Examiner that retail giants SuperValu will assume the maiden rights for an initial five years in a deal worth up to €1.5m. That may see the home of Cork GAA renamed 'SuperValu Páirc', with county board delegates set to discuss the proposal at a behind-closed-doors meeting on Tuesday evening.

However, dropping the name of the man - Pádraig Ó Caoimh, former GAA director general - after whom Páirc Uí Chaoimh was named, has already been met with disapproval, with Ó Caoimh's grandson Dónal saying he was "shocked and saddened" at the proposed name change.

Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1, Cllr McCarthy, while welcoming the sponsorship felt Pádraig Ó Caoimh's contribution to the GAA and to Cork could not be sacrificed in the proposed name change.

"To me, the sponsorship element is really, really welcome but the name Páirc Uí Chaoimh is really synonimous with Cork and there is also a massive history and heritage behind this man," he said.

"Pádraig Ó Caoimh led the GAA for 35 years, a man who grew the grassroots of clubs across the country, so there is a massive history there."

Cllr McCarthy went on to tell listeners a bit more about the revered GAA official.

"He was originally from Roscommon, moved to Cork when he was a child. Ó Caoimh later became involved in the Irish War of Independence, was interned, would have known people like Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney in terms of Cork War of Independence heritage.

"In his 20s he became secretary of Cork GAA and then in 1929 moved up to be the national