Calls for Dermot Earley Centre of Excellence to be progressed

The planned Dermot Earley Centre of Excellence in Roscommon Town needs to be progressed as soon as possible, councillors said at the May meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District.

The centre received planning permission in December 2023 and subsequently received €5.5m in funding from the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund in 2024.

During a meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District, councillors praised the unprecedented clean sweep by Roscommon GAA in Connacht, with Cllr Michael Holland calling it a “fantastic result”. The Roscommon ladies minorfootball team was also congratulated on their recent provincial win.

“It was such a pleasure to look down at that pitch from the stands and see the Roscommon supporters,” Cllr Holland said. “There were children crying with joy. It was unbelievable.”

Cllr Nigel Dineen, who was also honoured as part of the 2001 Connacht winning team on Sunday, said the clean sweep was an historic first.

“The GAA is a family and it brings everyone together,” he said. “It is ingrained in our DNA, and Roscommon are so proud and passionate. It just gives you goosebumps.”

He added that the Galway fans were praising King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, saying how easy it was to get to compared with Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

“That was great to hear,” he said. He added that the planned centre of excellence now needed to be pushed.

Cllr Dineen was also praised on the 25th anniversary of the historic 2001 win.

Cllr Marty McDermott said the wins were a “massive achievement”.

“My uncle was there with me at the Connacht final,” he said.

“He attended his first Connacht final in 1962, and there was nearly a tear in his eye when the whistle blew. He reckons it was one of the best Connacht finals he ever witnessed, even though 2001 was up there.”

He praised captain Diarmuid Murtagh for a “touch of class” in remembering the late broadcaster Michael Lyster in his speech. “It just shows the calibre of this team,” he said.

His Fianna Fáil colleague, Cllr Larry Brennan, said the value of the win to the town’s and county’s night-time and hospitality economies could not be underestimated.

“The sector is going through a particularly tough time at the moment,” he said.

“There are businesses that will be able to keep going for longer on the strength of yesterday’s game and the coming Tyrone match, which otherwise would be struggling to keep going.”

Progressing the centre of excellence was “vital as soon as possible”, he continued, “whatever has to be done, should be done.”

This sentiment was shared by MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice, saying that the councillors had fully supported the development. “The level of fitness was phenomenal,” he added, praising the senior team’s backroom staff.

Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme