Success of Mayo sports dome lauded by GAA supremo

From September 1, 2022 to April 12, 2023, some 104,000 people have used the dome at the Connacht Centre of Excellence at Bekan, Ballyhaunis, in one capacity or another.

That's according to the president of the GAA, Larry McCarthy.

Addressing an Oireachtas committee, he stated: "It is a magnificent facility and a wonderful addition to the list of facilities that we have provided to our communities.

"It is in continuous use and allows for games to be played in all sorts of weather.

"It only cost €3.2 million to construct and the majority of the funding came from the Connacht GAA Council.

"There was a public contribution to the cost but even if there had not been, a back-of-the-envelope calculation on the basis of recent use will certainly support the contention that the return on investment is very significant.

"The potential benefit of indoor facilities with a usage rate similar to that in Ballyhaunis suggests we should research locations in other provinces that would be within a maximum 90-minute drive, and preferably within a one-hour drive, of the majority of our clubs.

"Publicly funded domes are worthy of analysis as a partial solution to the challenge of facilities in one association.

"That challenge cannot be overcome in isolation by the three associations. Public infrastructure investment will be needed."