Mayo GAA asked about plans for Castlebar training centre

MAYO GAA has been requested to furnish an update about its plans to develop training facilities at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar.

The project was announced in August 2018 when Mayo County Council, in a collaborative development with Mayo GAA, acquired land to be developed for sport, tourism and recreation.

The property - 27 acres - was to be developed into two sections, with a Mayo GAA training centre, comprising of three pitches to facilitate the training and development of youth teams and the support of the ladies football team, as well as providing facilities for high performance teams visiting the centre and staying in Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.

The lands acquired by the council were earmarked to be developed as part of an overall sports tourism development plan, which would see existing walkways around the lake extended, as well as other leisure and sports tourism facilities.

More than two years on and there has been no progress on the project – an issue raised by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne at the May meeting of the council.

Interim chief executive Peter Duggan said the project is largely driven by the GAA and the council is awaiting a response as to if they wish to still proceed with it.

Councillor Kilcoyne: “Two years on we don't know where we are going with it.”

Mr. Duggan said the project is being led by the GAA, with the council involved in a small element of it.

He has written to them to see if they still wish to proceed with the project or not.

Councillor Kilcoyne has requested a full report on it for the next meeting.