Roscommon GAA has purchased just over 11 acres of lands from Roscommon County Council for €240,000 (excluding VAT), as part of its plans to develop a GAA Centre of Excellence at Ballyboughan and Carrownabrickna.
The sale of the lands, which are located off the Racecourse Road in Roscommon Town, was confirmed at the July meeting of Roscommon County Council on Monday. Planning permission for the construction of the Dermot Earley Centre of Excellence had already previously been granted at the end of 2023.
The sports training facility will include three full-size grass pitches with 15-metre and 20-metre high floodlighting, two new AstroTurf pitches, warm up areas, and a seated spectator terrace. Additionally, the development will include a ball wall area, a perimeter walking/running track, a new amenity building (with offices, canteen, gym, dressing rooms), parking facilities (for car, bicycle and EV), an internal access road, as well as relevant signage and all associated site development works.
Roscommon County Council CEO Shane Tiernan welcomed the centre as a major development that would bring significant benefits for Roscommon Town, citing the council’s commitment to developing local sporting facilities.
The news was also welcomed by several councillors, with Fine Gael councillor John Naughten saying it was a positive development and important for the region, and Independent councillor Laurence Fallon welcoming the amount of land being made available and adding that the facility will help bring visitors to the town.
