Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this issue. I also welcome the notion of the development of a national sports stadium. It would be quite difficult to oppose such a development because it creates an emphasis on sport, which is one of the best gifts that could be given to or encouraged in a community. We regularly discuss the abuse of drugs and alcohol, but sport is something that will take people off the streets.

At national level, the stadium will do its bit. If we have quality athletes, we should want quality facilities in which to train them. When we examine this issue, we probably consider our own areas and what should be given to them to help. Given how facilities were provided when I played football etc., the GAA has done much on a county by county basis. As for any of the clubs in counties Cavan and Monaghan, one facility is better than the next. The GAA provides a fantastic service to rural Ireland. While a number of rugby and soccer clubs are also to be commended, the GAA is present in every parish. People put in a great deal of voluntary effort and are aware that in so doing, they support and benefit the community in which they live.

Some years ago, football facilities were fairly poor. When playing a match or training, one might be obliged to tog out in a shed, a car or sometimes on the side of the pitch and to get on with business afterwards. Thankfully, this has changed because younger people have different expectation levels and people are treated better now than in the past.

While I welcome the national aspect of this Bill, it provides Members with an opportunity to consider local provision. I intend to use today's debate to raise the issue of St. Tiernach's Park, Clones. Traditionally, the GAA Ulster final has been played there for just over 40 years and has been the lifeblood of economic activity in the town. Clones is a Border town which was effectively cut off during the Troubles. While it suffered much economic hardship at the time, it was able to look forward to occasional events because of the development of the pitch. This was initiated in previous years by the Clones community with the assistance of the GAA's Ulster Council. The pitch has been developed into one of the country's finest.

However, GAA followings in Ulster are now so great that it is unable to host all the local Ulster matches. Recently, it was necessary to move an Ulster final from St. Tiernach's Park, Clones, to Croke Park. Ultimately, the people who took that decision were proved correct, as the crowds travelling from Ulster were so great that it was impossible to get tickets for the match in Croke Park. This signifies that the demand for football, and hence for stadiums, is especially high in the area which I represent.

Clones is unique in that it has top quality grounds as well as a good tradition of being capable of hosting Ulster finals. Moreover, the emphasis no longer merely on Ulster finals, as a considerably greater number of championship games are now played on foot of the introduction of the GAA's back door system. This leads to much championship activity for longer periods in the summer, which brings benefits to both the players who train throughout the winter and to their supporters who see more of their team. The Government should consider the application which seeks national sports capital funding to extend the pitch in Clones.

A further advantage is that many people who attend matches in Clones come from Northern Ireland, which involves taking money into our economy. Sterling is taken in when such people come, spend and stay. Moreover, surrounding towns such as Monaghan town, Ballybay and Castleblayney all receive some spin-off benefits. Hence, this proposal merits serious consideration.

In addition, if the Government were seen to pump money into Clones, the Ulster Council might also dig into its coffers or make a decision to the effect that Clones would become a headquarters site. However, if this opportunity is lost, it is possible that Casement Park, Belfast, might be developed as a headquarters site. At present, it does not have the same level of access as does Clones because, since the advent of the peace process, an additional five roads from Northern Ireland have been opened. Hence, access to Clones is much better and a number of bypasses are due to open in the region. The alternative is that this opportunity could be lost to Belfast and money would leave our economy rather than entering it. If the Government decided to spend the money, the economy would benefit in the long term from the number of people who would travel south to Clones to attend Gaelic football matches. Clones suffered economically and this would be a great opportunity for both the town itself and the country.

Normally, when one discusses football, there can be bitterness between different counties and people of one county might not support those of another. However, in this case, as far as my constituency is concerned, I have the great pleasure of being able to state that my Oireachtas colleagues from Cavan support the concept of developing St. Tiernach's, which I welcome. As one should pitch for one's own county, their willingness to support the proposal is a very magnanimous gesture and this degree of unity should be taken into consideration.

See this speech in context