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Just to update you all. The Gaa club had letters from Crowe park and
provincial level stating that we would be breaking rules if allowing soccer
on this Astro. We had similiar correspondence from Willis Inaurance and a long
list of examples of club who suffered claims etc. It was agreed by all to go ahead with the joint application between school and Gaa club to apply for a grant jointly. The Astro committee have
accepted that soccer can't be played but have agreed to donate the funds that they raised to erect
a wall ball an Astro which will be enjoyed by all school kids and Gaa teams. it is a huge relief to move this on and to eventually get their support.

Have explored this a good bit and as expected am struggling to find a Gaa club that are allowing a local soccer club use there grounds (Astro) to train, play and promote they sport. Meeting on this again tomorrow night. If anybody know any different please let me know here. Thanks for all the replies to date.

School and this Astro committee have x amount. They are offering us the opportunity to apply for a grant jointly (school and Gaa) to use they funds along with grant money if lucky to put in wall ball and Astro return area which we would have hoped to do anyway. Before the application is processed agreement has to be reached on letting soccer club use it for training. (If not they will look at alternatives) Gaa club within the community will look bad etc. What might start as an hour or two per week could lead to free reign if there is a change of officers etc in future years.

The proposed Astro area will be going on Gaa ground within the club grounds(about 30 yards from the school gate). Club only every intended putting in a ball wall with an Astro area off the wall etc. school and Astro committee have about 50k. Proposing school and Gaa jointly apply for grant to fund a bigger one but only on the condition that local soccer team uses it.

Many thanks for the replies. It really is a minefield. To be clear and more to the point, when we go to commence works on our new full sized playing pitch and walking track we will be doing so loan free and as mentioned have 110k to hand to fun the cost of the next stage of the project which will come in around 160k (club lotto over the year will more or less pay for it so we will be in a very healthy position. The club all along were hoping to go down the route of a ball wall with a Astro area off it for drills etc. Aside from that a new club house and parking area over the following years would be what we have in mind.

An Astro committee was set up by other members of the community years ago to raise funds to put in a Astro some where in the community. They have raised funds over the years and held other fundraisers without no home for this Astro. Sites here and there did not work out. Hence there joint approach to the Gaa club. Naturally there is a lot who feel our hand is forced as the words 'kids, community and what harm have been bandied about at several meetings now.

What is being proposed is that the school and gaa club apply for the extra funding together. The land is in the gaa club grounds is their grounds and situated alongside the local school. Basically Get it done and allow the  soccer club  use it for x hours for training.

It has been a draining process so far. Soccer moving to summer hours is a big one for me. A small number of players could be lost to Gaa. Soccer going on in Gaa grounds while Gaa games are taking place and soccer training being put on before or after juvenile training which might leave the window open to allow some kids just go to one. We are being told that they will have insurance in place, but is this enough?

Any clubs currently doing this.

Hi. I log on regularly to see whats going on but new to the board as a member and had a query on the following.

Am a lifelong member of our local GAA club which is in a rural area. Our club has mushroomed in recent years and are lucky to have high playing numbers.  When you include juvenile camogie and two ladies football teams we have about 22 teams across the club. The club is the heartbeat of the community and like many other clubs there is terrific work going on in developing and promoting the games with all ages.  We recently acquired extra land to develop our facilities over the coming years. On the strenght of a pro active committee and club lotto we were able to pay for this land up front. We have drawings complete and ready to go to tender in the coming weeks  to install a full sized additional pitch with a walking track which will be of great benefit to all within our community. We hope to commence works in Feb 2019 and again we are lucky to have the guts of 110k to hand (club lotto savings and part sports captial grant which we sucessfully got last year) to pay for this job. We have not knocked on doors or ran any major fundraisers to raise all this money. We have always balanced the books year on year while maintaining our high standard of developing our individual players, teams and club as a whole.

The local National School is located beside the GAA grounds and has daily and unlimited use of the grounds (as it should). The school had a large fundraiser a number of months ago and is now applying for a grant also. The intention is to do a joint application with the GAA club and if we are lucky put in a wall ball with a astro area which will benefit all. School kids, club etc...

A major stumbling block at the moment is the request from two local soccer clubs to use the facility for training purposes for x amount of hours per week and i presume to hold organised juvenile soccer games.

There is a couple of things to bear in mind. This is not a community field. The facility will be within GAA grounds. The land is owned by the GAA. Soccer is changing to run its competitions in line with GAA calander.

There has been numerous meetings about this. All agree and want an astro area (with ball wall) which will benefit the kids and club as a whole. Alot don't want soccer in GAA grounds as there is a fear that long term it will have an impact on the GAA Club. Some cant understand what it cannot be sanctioned.

The GAA club has sought advise from Croke Park and Provincial level and they are advising against.

In a nutshell do any of ye know of any GAA Clubs who have soccer using their facilities orhave clubs opened up their doors before that have had a negative experience. Is this a non runner? Can it be done etc?

All feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.