POSITIVE MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR UPGRADE OF ST TIERNACH’S PARK

A strong momentum of support among a wide range of stakeholders is building for the upgrade of Ulster final venue St Tiernach’s Park and the area of Clones in which the stadium is located. This was evident from a briefing delivered by Chief Executive Robert Burns to Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council. Mr Burns told the members that he had been invited to a meeting by Clones and Monaghan GAA on September 27 which was also attended by Oireachtas members Minister Heather Humphreys, Deputy Matt Carthy and Senator Robbie Gallagher, and Ulster Council representatives.

“We received a presentation on a vision for the development of St Tiernach’s Park and the St Tiernach’s Quarter. This was a vision to keep St Tiernach’s at the heart of the GAA in Ulster and which also looked at the potential for Clones to be a high performance location, maximising the opportunities afforded by the nearby Peace Link and the Ulster Canal, and opening up St Tiernach’s Park to more social and community use.” The Chief Executive said the presentation had met with a lot of positive feedback. Things were at a very early stage but he thought it was a very positive vision and the vision outlined was very encouraging – it was not just about one day of the year but about the potential of the stadium and the area of Clones in which it is set.

Mr Burns added that Monaghan Co Council’s involvement in the project would be as a stakeholder. Plans were moving ahead and the various stakeholders would be meeting in the future and opening the plan out to wider input. Cathaoirleach Cathy Bennett (Sinn Féin) said it would be great to see the development of St Tiernach’s Park in the coming years – it was something that would help make Co Monaghan…