'White elephant' - decision given on repair of public Laois playing field

The long awaited goal of resurfacing a public pitch in Portlaoise used by soccer clubs, has been kicked far into the future.

Laois Leisure Ltd has said that spending money on the field next to Portlaoise Leisure Centre would create "a white elephant".

While the centre is investing half a million euros to renew its rentable astroturf pitches at Portlaoise Leisure Centre, the public pitch beside it will remain as it is, a meadow of dandelions, with a track worn by walkers across it.

Manager Sean Quirke addressed the issue, speaking to councillors at the April meeting of Laois County Council.

"A half a million is needed for Portlaoise astroturf resurfacing. It needs shockpads and underlay. We need a Sports Capital Grant for this.

"The grass field was last a playing pitch in 2019. The area has struggled with multiple demons. It is a hybrid of many things, people play frisbee on it, they walk their dogs, puck balls. 

"Returning it to a soccer pitch would raise a few challenges. Overall Laois Leisure is working to reduce our losses in Portlaoise. Getting to the point where it washes its face. To provide a grass pitch is something that would be a while elephant money wise," Mr Quirke said.

Cllr James Kelly, a soccer supporter and member of the Laois Combined Counties Football League, had asked him at the meeting when the pitch would be relaid.

"The big bugbear is the grass pitch. We met years ago but there hasn't been any work done really on that. Clubs here have to go and source a pitch somewhere else. I know there was funding earlier in the year to get it up and running. The new season starts in August. When will it be done, what is happening? I keep getting calls," he had said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan described the green as "overgrown, knee high in buachalláins" and said the public had concerns.

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Cllr Kelly has been requesting urgent work on the pitch for several years. He said in 2022 that Maryborough FC must go to Ballyroan to play, Midlands Celtic are playing in Portarlington, and only Tower Hill were using the Portlaoise pitch.

The FAI declared the pitch unsafe for soccer matches as it was too impacted.  In 2022 Laois County Council agreed with residents to erect a 1.5m fence around it to keep walkers off and also to pay for reinstating the pitch, but the works were never carried out.