Kildare County Board: No fuss, no bother as the Birds leave the Nest, four decades on

There was hardly a dry eye in the house on Tuesday evening last when the grassroots, aka, club delegates, met for the last time in what is affectionately known as the Birds' Nest at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, — the occasion being the March meeting of the Co. Board.

Dry eyes bit of an exaggeration?

Well ... in truth ... yes.

Nostalgia in the air?

Well ... in truth ... no.

A bit of a celebration.

Definitely not.

It was, nevertheless, a bit of an historic occasion after close on 40 years. Surely a cuppa, an auld cocktail sausage, a salad sambo with a few curled up corners; a bit of chocolate roll, marietta biscuit or even a slice of brack or currant cake, would not have gone astray.

But no. Nothing.

Good, bad or indifferent.

Shame really.

Now don't get me wrong, the fact that it was the last meeting of delegates in the Birds' Nest before the bulldozers arrive in a few weeks time, certainly got a mention, even if it was just an aside, but certainly there was no fuss as chairman Mick Gorman (doesn't do fuss) went through the agenda in his usual brisk, no nonsense manner and when the time came to depart he asked delegates jokingly (I think) not to take anything with them for nostalgia purposes.

And so the Birds' Nest will be no more shortly.

Built back in 1984 by Kildare Co. Council who also built the outside wall along the entrance, while also putting in the turnstiles.

It was a deal that saw the Council take charge of the car park in return, a deal negotiated by the then County Secretary Seamus Aldridge with council officials Dick Burke, Noel Finn and the then Co Manager Gerry Ward.

A spanking new entrance is now on the way, the old stand will be demolished (the biggest plus of the entire new development) with the Kilcullen end terrace upgraded; the length of the pitch brought up to Croke Park size with the width coming up just a few meters short of the standard size. Not forgetting the installation of floodlights.

All very positive and all at a cost, including VAT and a few other bits and bobs, of €16.5 million — not a lot when you say it quick — but something to look forward to and hopefully everything will be up and running as planned for the inter-county season of 2025, with the county finals of the previous year being the first games to be played on the new pitch a couple of months prior to that.

As for the meeting itself well there was no earth shattering news, revelations or promises.

As we heard the previous week naming rights of the revamped stadium will be announced shortly; a number of new sponsors for various competitions are also on the way, while Manguard Plus are to extend their association with Hawkfield. Positives one and all.

The SFL divisions will see a slight change instead of 12, 12, 10 and 8 it will now be 12, 12, 12 and 8.

It is hoped to have four divisions in the SHL while the JFC will now consist of 11 clubs, two groups (6 and 5) with an open draw. The Féile finals will take place in late April.

Colm Farrell informed delegates of the present upgrading of Hawkfield, new steps either side of the present stand which should be completed in a couple of weeks, while putting on his Club Kildare hat the Johnstownbridge Vice-

Chairman said two dates to keep in the diary were the Annual Punchestown Festival Fund-raiser April 29 while the Annual Golf fundraiser will be held in The K Club on August 3.

Larry Curtin, Leinster Council delegate, informed the gathering that a discussion at Leinster recently decided to retain the O'Byrne Cup, adding that after the debacle of this season, there will be some sanctions on counties that fail to fulfil fixtures, yet to be decided.

Another interesting tit-bit from Larry that was brought up at Leinster was moving the provincial semi-finals out of Croke Park but when those pressing for a change were told that that would certainly see major reductions in the monies the counties receive from Leinster, the idea was not pursued.

The bauld Joe Moore brought up the fact that he could not understand why Kildare hurlers had to travel to Derry the same day as the Derry footballers traveled to Kildare, and for once most people agreed with Joe, the fixture being described as “illogical.”

The senior hurlers were congratulated on their fine displays; chairman Gorman urged suipport for the hurlers, while the fortunes of the footballers were noted.

How no delegate enquired if playing club games, including U16 hurling league on the same afternoon as the hurlers vital game in the AHL left one wondering if hurling is getting the full backing it deserves or is it nothing more than cheap talk, and a sop.

The chairman thanked Noel McKenna for his work as Referee Administrator, who was stepping down and named Ger Arnold (Ellistown) the new administrator.

Not for the first time delegates were reminded that Club Kildare members are not entitled to get into league (club) games free with Club Kildare membership card, free admission (with membership) is only for club championship games while it was stated that it is Kildare GAA policy adult players pay the admission price of games, even when playing.

Good luck with that one.

Athy delegate Tony Foley said Athy do not charge players for playing league football.

And you know something, neither should any other club in the county!