Centre of excellence in Mayo provides €10m. boost to local economy
THE Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan has an estimated value to the local economy of €10 million.
Since September, some 110,000 people have used the facility, either as players or at meetings or seminars.
The figures were revealed by Connacht Council secretary John Prenty to councillors from the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District when the venue hosted their monthly meeting for May.
The centre is set on 85 acres of land and first went for planning permission back in 2007. Today it is home to the world's largest sports airdome, boasts seven outdoor pitches, a gym and two and a half kilometres of walkways.
Mr. Prenty set out the numbers who have visited since September last, with 1,500 hours of games played in that time. There are days when there are 20 coaches with young people attending.
Most recently the venue was used as a catering hub for 350 gardaí on duty for the visit of President Joe Biden.
Slap bang in the middle of Connacht, it is estimated that the value of the centre to the locality is €10 million.
Sustainability is a key aspect to how the centre is run and it has become the first organisation in the country to start selling electricity back to the grid, that power being generated through their solar panels.
It costs €170 a day to keep the tent up and that will be cost neutral in the near future.
In the coming weeks everything at the centre will be recycled, and other projects include water harvesting which recycles water off the roof, some 13,000 trees have been planted by volunteers in the last year and a half, and the place is 'buzzing' thanks to their beehives, which produced 400 pots of honey last year.
“This is a GAA centre but we are also here for the community,” said Mr. Prenty, who highlighted the on-site medical centre where UPMC were that morning working with 25 people over 70 on an exercise programme.
District cathaoirleach Councillor John Cribben said that what Mr. Prenty had delivered in Bekan was akin to what Fr. James Horan had delivered in Knock, and no one could underestimate what the centre meant to the county, country and internationally. It was the envy of many towns and cities that they had such a facility.
He paid tribute to Mr. Prenty for what he had achieved and the legacy that is the centre of excellence.
Councillor Neil Cruise agreed that the vision and what has been achieved at the centre since 2007 was 'outstanding'.
He also commented on the welcome that awaits everyone coming through the door and the traditional values that are there in the way the centre is run.
Councillor Gerry Murray said the facility was a testimony to John Prenty and his passion was very evident.
He suggested that a handball facility might be considered at the centre into the future.