Dublin GAA asked to revise plans for new facility due to environmental and traffic concerns

Dublin GAA's County Board has been asked to revise its plans for a major new state-of-the-art training facility at the Spawell sports and leisure centre in south Dublin over concerns about its impact on the environment and traffic.

South Dublin County Council has postponed a decision on an application by Dublin GAA for planning permission for its proposed “cluster facility” just off the M50 in Templeogue in order to seek further information on the project.

The plans, which require the demolition of the existing golf driving range and the partial loss of indoor and outdoor soccer pitches, will provide three new floodlit GAA pitches, with electronic scoreboards and dugouts and an indoor training facility.

The project also involves the construction of a stand with seating for 500 spectators, and two uncovered seated terraces with capacity for another 500 spectators.

A new pavilion will include 10 team changing rooms, shower facilities, a dining room, a gym, a tuck shop, a meeting room, physio and first aid facilities, and a medical room.

A fourth pitch is already under construction on land which was formerly a pitch and putt course at the site.

Dublin GAA purchased the 13.8-hectare facility for over €9 million in 2017.

Other elements of the cluster facility include a large L-shaped hurling wall, running to 105 metres in length, and an all-weather surface sprint training area, as well as a 1.32km walking trail and jogging track, and car parking for 112 vehicles.

Dublin GAA has sought 10-year planning permission for the project on the basis it is an amateur, volunteer-based sporting organisation which will require extensive fundraising over a period of time to deliver the many elements of what it describes as “a high-end