Plans for Dublin GAA facility at Spawell on hold

Plans for a major new state-of-the-art training facility in south Dublin by the Dublin GAA County Board have been put on hold following objections by local residents.

Several appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the recent decision of South Dublin County Council to grant planning permission for the development of the new "GAA cluster facility" at the site of the existing Spawell sports and leisure centre just off the M50 in Templeogue.

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 terraces on either side of the main stand with capacity for another 500 attendants.

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

A fourth pitch is already under construction on a former pitch and putt course at the 13.8-hectare facility which Dublin GAA bought for over €9 million in 2017.

Other elements of the project 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/jogging track.

The Dublin GAA County Board had to submit revised plans containing a "comprehensive redesign" of the new training facility to the local authority in October 2024 to address concerns raised by council planners about its impact on the environment and traffic.

They include the redesign and relocation of the pavilion building and overflow