Limerick GAA to seek planning permission for €20m centre of excellence

PLANNING permission is set to be sought for a new €20m Limerick GAA centre of excellence in Crecora.

Limerick Live can reveal that documents are currently being prepared for a planning application to Limerick City and County Council for the massive development on 95 acres of land at Jockeyhall, Crecora.

This is located just off the N20/M20 between Patrickswell and Adare.

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It is expected documents will be lodged with council in the next fortnight.

According to the ambitious proposals, there will be six floodlit natural grass pitches, two flood-lit all-weather synthetic pitches, and one sod replacement pitch.

One indoor pitch is expected to be constructed, as well as two three-sided precast concrete ball walls with netting, fencing, goal posts, goal post netting and dug-outs to all playing pitches.

An existing walled garden is to be repurposed to incorporate an all-weather synthetic training area.

A new two-storey pavilion building will be constructed measuring around 4,285 square metres.

This will feature changing rooms, a gym, first-aid and physiotherapy rooms, meeting rooms and offices.

Also in this new complex, it's envisaged there will be a multi-purpose hall, an auditorium, kitchen, dining space, plus a service courtyard.

To facilitate the massive GAA development, three sheds will be demolished, alongside an overground storage tank.

Extensions to the existing Prospect Hall building on site will be razed.

And a change-of-use will be sought for what is left of Prospect Hall, from residential to commercial use.

According to the plans, this building will be connected to the new pavilion building through a link corridor.

Plans for this new centre of excellence were first revealed last year, after Limerick GAA officials confirmed that the 95-acre site at Crecora had been formally acquired.

At the launch of a fundraising drive for the development, Limerick hurling manager John Kiely said: "It's going to be a very expensive project to bring to fruition but, at the same time, we have to match our ambition on the pitch with our ambition off the pitch."

It's hoped this project will help with integration plans for the GAA, LGFA and Camogie associations, the deadline for completion of which falls within two years from now.