Meath Forum

Pairc Tailteann

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I really don't understand why the old stadium is not sold for redevelopment and move away from the location altogether. It would command a very descent fee that would help considerably towards developing a brand new stadium with capacity for 30,000 out at Dunganny opposite the training facility.
Every game of any importance over the last few years from county finals to last Saturdays qualifier are having throw in times delayed by 15 mins to try and get the crowds in on brews hill side. The stadium is located in a bottle neck with brutal access on all sides. Heavy traffic descends on the town with no parking facilities. Housing estates bocked up for the residents its a complete disaster all round. Never mind how unfair it is on the teams playing to be ready for a throw in time only for it to be changed last minute.
I think we are missing the bigger picture. A purpose built stadium like Tullamore's would be the way forward with good access and parking around the stadium proper entrance and exit facilities at Dunganny. Traffic going in both directions to Trim and Navan with alternate routes towards Dublin and the M3 through Bective would help get the traffic away.
Lets talk to the Gaa and Leinster council about the need and funding for such a development and test the waters. They've invested heavily in Dublin and have created a monster in Leinster now. It's high time we fought for what we might deserve and investment in coaching as they've done for Dublin.

leftnright (Meath) - Posts: 30 - 05/07/2017 12:55:17    2010942

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A feasibility report for PT was circulated a while back. Long term vision is to plan for a stadium that could one day be developed into a 21,000 all-seater venue. First phase is to demolish the current stand and build a new 7,000 seater one but on a different footprint. What I don't understand is how initially this will be 4,000 with another 3,000 added down the line. The pitch will be moved 15 metres southward (towards the warm-up area) to allow for sufficient space for a similar stand to be built on the main terrace side in years to come.

From what I can gather, the main terrace will stay as it is for now holding about 9,000. Two terraces will eventually be put in at either goal end holding 2,000 people each bringing the overall capacity to 20,000. New floodlights, car park, warm-up area etc. to be put in place aswell. That's how I understand it anyway. A lot of research seems to have been put in by the CB but I imagine this will be a slow process.

MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 05/07/2017 13:00:10    2010943

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Replying To MarkMyWords:  "A feasibility report for PT was circulated a while back. Long term vision is to plan for a stadium that could one day be developed into a 21,000 all-seater venue. First phase is to demolish the current stand and build a new 7,000 seater one but on a different footprint. What I don't understand is how initially this will be 4,000 with another 3,000 added down the line. The pitch will be moved 15 metres southward (towards the warm-up area) to allow for sufficient space for a similar stand to be built on the main terrace side in years to come.

From what I can gather, the main terrace will stay as it is for now holding about 9,000. Two terraces will eventually be put in at either goal end holding 2,000 people each bringing the overall capacity to 20,000. New floodlights, car park, warm-up area etc. to be put in place aswell. That's how I understand it anyway. A lot of research seems to have been put in by the CB but I imagine this will be a slow process."
Possibly, and I'm only thinking here, they will develop 4000 seats first to get a functioning stand open as soon as possible and then extend it either side when that's in place. Remember when that stand is demolished there will be no seated or no covered accommodation available not to mention dressing rooms etc leaving the terrace as the only usable permanent structure in the ground. Now I'm sure temporary dressing rooms will be put in place but whether or not temporary seating or cover will be put in place during construction I don't know but I can only think that they want to get a functioning stand in place ASAP hence completing the 4000 seats first.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 05/07/2017 13:19:26    2010956

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Replying To leftnright:  "I really don't understand why the old stadium is not sold for redevelopment and move away from the location altogether. It would command a very descent fee that would help considerably towards developing a brand new stadium with capacity for 30,000 out at Dunganny opposite the training facility.
Every game of any importance over the last few years from county finals to last Saturdays qualifier are having throw in times delayed by 15 mins to try and get the crowds in on brews hill side. The stadium is located in a bottle neck with brutal access on all sides. Heavy traffic descends on the town with no parking facilities. Housing estates bocked up for the residents its a complete disaster all round. Never mind how unfair it is on the teams playing to be ready for a throw in time only for it to be changed last minute.
I think we are missing the bigger picture. A purpose built stadium like Tullamore's would be the way forward with good access and parking around the stadium proper entrance and exit facilities at Dunganny. Traffic going in both directions to Trim and Navan with alternate routes towards Dublin and the M3 through Bective would help get the traffic away.
Lets talk to the Gaa and Leinster council about the need and funding for such a development and test the waters. They've invested heavily in Dublin and have created a monster in Leinster now. It's high time we fought for what we might deserve and investment in coaching as they've done for Dublin."
I can see the attraction with selling PT and using the cash to build a new somewhere out of town. But honestly I think that would be a mistake unless the new site were relatively close to Navan town centre (with better access of course) . PT has huge tradition within the town of Navan and it would be a major loss to lose it. Indeed the local vendors would not thank you for it either. It's not as though Pairc Tailteann is on a small site, there is lots of space to build a top notch ground there and if Navan were to ever get it's railway back it is right beside the railway line and close to the station.

Unfortunately I cannot get behind your suggestion of Dunganny, though it is in a perfectly fine location for what it is, it's a terrible location for a county ground imo. It's too far away from anywhere, any crowds coming to a match would drive in and simply leave. There would be little or no atmosphere around the ground, there would be no nearby facilities if any fans wanted to get some food or have a pint save for any opportunistic pop up shops. A pitch with a small stand for club games would be perfectly fine but then again why not play that game in Trim.

House_Royal (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 05/07/2017 16:57:27    2011076

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Building a stadium at Dunganny would be a disaster. No public transport, no local services, the roads would be utterly choked with traffic having one lane in each direction. Not to mention it would get blocked up with parked cars on busy days, even if you built a humongous car park people would park on the road to "beat the traffic".

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 05/07/2017 19:25:26    2011135

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The lands across the road from the current car park at PT (opposite where the swimming pool was) would be a grand place for a large car park :) (for PT and hospital) and lots more besides. AFAIK, it is owned by the county council and I don't know what they plan to do with it long term.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.6495465,-6.6961151,3a,75y,267.61h,93.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7u5iJq_1QmxV8D7Wm5LNwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 05/07/2017 19:57:46    2011154

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Why don't they go balls out and build something with a roof?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 05/07/2017 20:08:26    2011161

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Leftright: 'Every game of any importance over the last few years from county finals to last Saturdays qualifier are having throw in times delayed by 15 mins to try and get the crowds in on brews hill side. The stadium is located in a bottle neck with brutal access on all sides. Heavy traffic descends on the town with no parking facilities. Housing estates bocked up for the residents its a complete disaster all round. Never mind how unfair it is on the teams playing to be ready for a throw in time only for it to be changed last minute'.

PT is a very good location being within 5minutes of a link road to the M3. Local parking could be better and some of the suggestions here should be followed up. Your comment about 15 minute delays getting into matches has more to do with organisation- not crowds. 30% of the turnstiles to the grounds have remained shut over the last 4 years and that along with having to 'q' twice, once for ticket and then again to obtain access- it also increases staffing.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 05/07/2017 20:15:18    2011169

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Selling Pairc Tailteann for redevelopment is an absolute 100% non runner for several reasons.

1. The enormous historical value of the site dating back to the Tailteann Games
2. The land is zoned for recreational/community use. Yes O'Mahoneys sold a strip of land for an Aldi to be built but this was done on a proviso that the main use of the site remained for Gaa.
3. Impact on local Business: A re-developed stadium would be of huge commercial benefit to all business in the town. As a local myself its plain to see from last weekend and the forth coming weekend the benefits an influx of thousands of patrons who are specifically visiting for a day out bring to the town of Navan.
4. Politics: A number of TDs are now involved in bring the redevelopment to fruition, it would be political suicide locally to push it outside the town.

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 06/07/2017 07:17:47    2011288

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County board looking for extra volunteers and stewards this weekend to open additional turnstiles which should help the problem of game being delayed.

Royal_Gunner (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 06/07/2017 08:15:33    2011315

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Replying To Royal_Gunner:  "County board looking for extra volunteers and stewards this weekend to open additional turnstiles which should help the problem of game being delayed."
i hope that is sarcasom..... the delays are caused by the position of the ticket sellers. yes they should keep some there but there should be a portable ticket selling office stationed down the town maybe at the turn for brews hill so that would ease congestion because on the terrace side its painful

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 06/07/2017 15:07:50    2011543

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Replying To highking12:  "Selling Pairc Tailteann for redevelopment is an absolute 100% non runner for several reasons.

1. The enormous historical value of the site dating back to the Tailteann Games
2. The land is zoned for recreational/community use. Yes O'Mahoneys sold a strip of land for an Aldi to be built but this was done on a proviso that the main use of the site remained for Gaa.
3. Impact on local Business: A re-developed stadium would be of huge commercial benefit to all business in the town. As a local myself its plain to see from last weekend and the forth coming weekend the benefits an influx of thousands of patrons who are specifically visiting for a day out bring to the town of Navan.
4. Politics: A number of TDs are now involved in bring the redevelopment to fruition, it would be political suicide locally to push it outside the town."
Would the Tailteann games not have been held in Tailtin, half way between Navan and Kells?

That said I'd hate to lose the name, it's pretty unique amongst stadia in Ireland. Other stadia have ancient names like Thomond or Breffni, but Tailteann was at least a sporting festival!

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 06/07/2017 15:12:23    2011545

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For those interested Michael O'Brien (Walterstown) produced a book in 1994 entitled: 'The Struggle for Pairc Tailteann - A history of Meath's and Leinster's Premier GAA Grounds. A read of same should convince all (or almost all) that we should keep the name and the location.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 06/07/2017 17:05:58    2011581

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Replying To browncows:  "For those interested Michael O'Brien (Walterstown) produced a book in 1994 entitled: 'The Struggle for Pairc Tailteann - A history of Meath's and Leinster's Premier GAA Grounds. A read of same should convince all (or almost all) that we should keep the name and the location."
I actually had a copy of that but it was lost, along with everything else, in an unfortunate fire at my home place some years back, any idea where a man might get a copy, is it still possible to get I wonder?

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 06/07/2017 18:27:36    2011614

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I have no issue with the location of PT and I don't think selling it would be of benefit in the long term, but anyway it's nice to see that things are moving along, albeit slowly.

As for the name, couldn't give a monkeys, I never get a tear in my eye or a tingle in my pants when I hear the name Pairc Tailteann, the name should be sold for extra revenue to help build the new stadium. Listen it's only concrete and steel etc lads, don't worry you won't offend the stadium's feelings by calling it something else for a practical reason.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 06/07/2017 18:31:45    2011617

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I'd like to think they would keep the Pairc Tailteann name (and not sell naming rights at all, and especially on the cheap). It is not like the Aviva, Emirates or Allianz arenas where they would be raking in mega bucks. Even Armagh's deal in relation to their redeveloped stadium turned sour in the end. Presently, there is plenty of vacant space around PT to generate advertising revenue. A successful county team and redeveloped stadium would help generate increased revenue in terms of jersey sponsorship deals, advertising hoardings and such like. It is not like there will be other major sporting events, pop concerts or meeting conferences held at the stadium. But who knows :)

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 06/07/2017 19:20:41    2011631

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Replying To GlasagusOr:  "I'd like to think they would keep the Pairc Tailteann name (and not sell naming rights at all, and especially on the cheap). It is not like the Aviva, Emirates or Allianz arenas where they would be raking in mega bucks. Even Armagh's deal in relation to their redeveloped stadium turned sour in the end. Presently, there is plenty of vacant space around PT to generate advertising revenue. A successful county team and redeveloped stadium would help generate increased revenue in terms of jersey sponsorship deals, advertising hoardings and such like. It is not like there will be other major sporting events, pop concerts or meeting conferences held at the stadium. But who knows :)"
I hear Nathan Carter is already being lined up :)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/07/2017 19:49:12    2011644

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I hear Nathan Carter is already being lined up :)"
Christ if I hear wagon wheel blaring over the PA in Navan i'll get sick.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 07/07/2017 20:43:39    2012136

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Replying To Richieq:  "Christ if I hear wagon wheel blaring over the PA in Navan i'll get sick."
Lol, me too :)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/07/2017 22:16:36    2012178

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Replying To browncows:  "For those interested Michael O'Brien (Walterstown) produced a book in 1994 entitled: 'The Struggle for Pairc Tailteann - A history of Meath's and Leinster's Premier GAA Grounds. A read of same should convince all (or almost all) that we should keep the name and the location."
I read that book a couple of months ago and it was a mighty struggle.At every turn their were obstacles put in their way.The way it was they didn't want GAA played there.At one time some British Aristocrat was in Navan and it was all union jacks bar one Tricolour on Trimgate Street.

jake1 (Meath) - Posts: 268 - 07/07/2017 22:48:31    2012194

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