Foxrock rugby club accuses GAA of ‘land grab’ after sale of local playing field – The Irish Times

A miniature rugby club from Foxrock, Dublin, has accused a local GAA club of “land grabbing” after it purchased a five-acre playing field to which the two groups have enjoyed shared access for many years.

The Geraldine P Moran GAA club, known as “the Gers”, have played rent-free for the past 65 years on a parish pitch next to Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, which is run by Foxrock Catholic Parish for a Dublin Diocese Trust.

St Brigid’s RFC, which caters for children up to the age of 13, has shared the ground for many years. It is also used by the local primary school, St Brigid’s Boys’ National School, which is based on nearby Mart Lane in Foxrock. However, a dispute has arisen after the GAA club reached an agreement with Foxrock Parish for the purchase of the ground, to be funded through debt financing and club fundraising. Some bridging finance has been provided by the GAA.

( South Dublin GAA club buys pitch at prime Foxrock siteOpens in new window )

A “side agreement” between the parish and the GAA club, seen by The Irish Times, stipulates that both parties “agree to allow the continued use of the facilities by sports clubs and other users in the same way as has happened to date”.

The agreement also stipulates that usage agreements “shall be confirmed each year in a written agreement,” which will include a formula for sharing operating costs.

However, St Brigid’s RFC secretary Morgan Cassidy called the deal a “land grab” by the GAA. “Even though they say everything will stay the same, they can decide at any time that they don’t want us there. We feel quite uncomfortable with that. The agreement says that 80 per cent of our members have to be students at St Brigid’s Boys’ National School. That is discriminatory and is a clear effort to stop us from expanding or growing in any way. It is an open and blatant attempt to control our club.”

Today, 65 to 70 per cent of the club’s children attend St Brigid’s Boys’ School, he added.

“We have gone back to the church with a letter from our lawyers,” he said. “We are very clear. We want the church to stop the sale and we have told the church that. It is dividing the community. We want them to work with both clubs to come to a fair agreement.”

GAA club chairman Ger Moffatt said he was willing to work with the rugby club to find a solution.

“Five weeks ago, the parish asked the rugby club to simply list their concerns and we could sit down and discuss them. That is what we are hoping for. Then the parish and ourselves can have a constructive dialogue and address these issues. We are protecting their access. The sorts of things we have heard mentioned are all things that can be addressed. Once they document the issues, of course, we will be happy to sit down and work on a solution with them.”

Richard O’Donohue, chairman of Foxrock Parish’s finance committee, said he was awaiting further contact from the rugby club.

“We are obviously aware of the comments that are being made in relation to the sale of the parish ground and in particular in relation to the rugby club’s right of continued use,” he said. “While we believe the rights of the rugby club and all other current users have been protected, we have been in communication with the rugby club over the past few weeks and are awaiting a response from their solicitors in relation to their concerns. At this time, we are not going to comment further until we hear from them.”