Laois Gaa moving to Kilkenny....!

[The Real Laoislad]

Laois GAA seal amazing deal for new training facility at Galmoy,Co.Kilkenny

Laois GAA confirmed one of the most spectacular deals in the history of the county on Tuesday night, as they purchased over 30 acres of land, and buildings valued at over €3m from Galmoy Mines Ltd for just €10.
In a move which surprised many at Tuesday night's county board meeting, Chairman Brian Allen and Secretary Niall Handy announced the details of the purchase of the land to delegates.

Laois will pay an initial fee of just €10 for the land and buildings, but will cover the later costs of transfering the land to their ownership and other administrative expenses.

The move came about when Andy Dunne, from Clonad, brought Allen and Handy's attention to the opportunity, and with the help of John Stapleton, from Kilcotton, who is an Environmental Officer with Galmoy Mines Ltd, a meeting was arranged with Stefan Mansson, the mines' Managing Director, as Brian Allen explains, "Myself and Niall were brought to meet Stefan Mansson, and he asked us to make a pitch as to why they should give us the land. We then submitted our proposal, and he came back to us and gave us preliminary acceptance."

The whole deal has been moving quickly, with that meeting happening just a few weeks ago. The land which Laois GAA will receive is currently grazing land and has not been used for mining, and will need some work eventually as it will need to be levelled, but the buildings which will be part of the deal are the real coup. One of the buildings was only completed last year at a cost of €1.2m, and has changing facilities for almost 170 people.

The other building is valued at between €1.5m and €2m, and is currently used for administration, but Allen admits it will have uses beyond this, "That building has a workshop and store, which could be re-constructed into a gym without too much financial outlay." There is also a fenced in car park with parking for 160 cars as part of the deal.

The mines were originally due to close in 2010, but with their profitability steadily decreasing, that date has been brought forward. Even when the mines are closed, Lundin Mining Corporation, the Canadian based firm which own Galmoy, will retain some administrative staff on site, but the rest of the facilities will be at the disposal of Laois GAA, and when they officially close the mine, Laois GAA can then submit a planning application for the change of use.

Despite Galmoy being just barely in Kilkenny, a point some will feel sours the news, Allen highlighted that it was too good a deal to turn down, "When we were approached by Galmoy it was obviously a consideration, but to be fair we coudn't not accept this deal. It is a huge scoop for Laois GAA."

"The company wanted to put something back into the community and they felt that this way, it would be best utilized for the generations to come."

The development at Galmoy will raise some concerns over the original site for the development of a training complex and centre of excellennce at Dooary in Ballyroan, with the land already bought and plans already in place to develop on the there. Despite the purchase of Galmoy, the development at Ballyroan will not be scrapped, and it is believed both projects will be developed in the future.

- Leinster Express

[ONeill]

Ach I thought Duffy was moving house.

[thebandit]

Brian Cody won't be happy!

[brokencrossbar1]

Brian Cody won't give a fcuk!!! Kilkenny will still beat them in hurling and the KK footballers don't bother anyone bar the waitresses