NEWS: Tipperary GAA club given green light for facilities upgrade, despite locals concerns

A Tipperary GAA club has been given the green light for a major facilities upgrade, even as some locals voiced strong concerns, likening part of the plan to a prison wall.

Fethard GAA Club asked Tipperary County Council for permission to build a new two-storey clubhouse with changing rooms, showers, toilets, a referees’ room, meeting room, medical room, storage room, and a room that can be used for different activities.

The club’s vision includes demolishing the old spectator stand to make way for a new one, installing a hurling wall, creating a footpath and a low fence around the pitch, and relocating both the electric scoreboard and the protective netting.

According to planning files, the project “seeks to enhance and modernise the facilities at this well-established GAA club grounds.”

"This project aims to significantly improve the dated sports and recreation facilities at Fethard GAA Park for the benefit of juvenile and adult players, spectators, mentors and the wider community,” planning files state.

The new facilities will serve Fethard GAA, Fethard Ladies Gaelic Football Club, St Rita’s Camogie Club, the juvenile club, and local schools.

Several residents of St Patrick’s Place pushed back against the plans, voicing worries about the relocated hurling wall, potential loss of privacy, and rainwater runoff from the new stand.

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"The hurling ball wall will be creating further noise pollution for the residents,” the objection said.

"The constant, repetitive sound of a hard sliotar striking a wall can have a serious, detrimental impact on us, the residents nearby, as the boundary wall to the astro-turf is only 84 feet for some residents, leading to reduced quality of life for some residents,” they added.

The residents’ group also argued that the hurling wall and new scoreboard would loom over some gardens, block cherished views, and cast more shade on nearby homes.

"The height of the proposed ball wall … will block the view and reduce natural light into the residents’ properties and will look unsightly and will resemble a prison wall,” they added.

Despite these objections, Tipperary County Council granted approval for the project, attaching nine specific conditions.