Budget 2017: Allocation for sports down almost 30%

The budget allocated to sports and recreation services has been cut by almost 30 per cent.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross received an additional €72 million in his Department’s annual budget.

However the allocation for sport was reduced by more than €20 million, from €73.5 million in 2016 to €51.91 million for 2017.

Meanwhile:

Doyle Welcomes Budget 2017 Allocation for Forestry, Horticulture, Organics and Greyhound Sectors

“I am also pleased to announce the intention to fulfil the commitment to the Horse and Greyhound Fund for 2017, which will increase expenditure to €16m next year for Bord na gCon.

www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/86995/w...-at-the-sportsground

Linley's editorial in today's Galway Advertiser is on the subject ...
Couldn't find a html version of it but here's the print edition:
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/lau...-b02a0a3d009c&pnum=4

sea_point wrote:
No, the covered temporary stand beyond that.Before that they used to have one the entrance side of the Main Stand, thnk circa our first HEC season when El Presidente & An Taoiseach both visited.for the Toulouse game.

I assume that still remains and that the Stand they're now talking about (they way they're talking about it) is in addition to what was there last season.

So my thinking is that basically we'll have a phalanx of two 30 capacity Temporary stands either side of the Main Stand...

No, there will only be one stand the Bohermore side of the Main Stand.

You're right in thinking that stand was placed the College Road side our first season in the HEC but that whole setup was amateur hour (City council hadn't bothered doing a safety assessment - sure it'll never be full - determining an acceptable capacity for Sportsground; flooding of neighbours; no planning permission even though the size and time the stand was up meant we should have had it). There won't be a temporary stand there again.

salmson wrote: Do you mean the uncovered terrace extension on the Main Stand side? Been there for a while now, but haven't seen any planning details for it.

The announcement probably refers to the same, single, covered temporary stand they've used for several years now. First year it was used (first HEC year) it was to the right of the main stand but it cramped access and exit, plus there was an unfortunately incident with water flooding off it into an adjacent garden (as it was so close to the boundary wall). It's been to the left since either as extra terracing or seating. Don't recall it being used last season at all.

Either way the capacity is closer to 6K than 8K without the extra temporary terracing at either end, which we've had no indication is going up for Saturday's game.

No, the covered temporary stand beyond that.Before that they used to have one the entrance side of the Main Stand, thnk circa our first HEC season when El Presidente & An Taoiseach both visited.for the Toulouse game.

I assume that still remains and that the Stand they're now talking about (they way they're talking about it) is in addition to what was there last season.

So my thinking is that basically we'll have a phalanx of two 30 capacity Temporary stands either side of the Main Stand...

I agree. I just hope these are not bad omens.

Can imagine the IRFU thinking, let's see how Connacht do this season before committing to anything strategic.

yes the sportsground could be in better shape but it wont effect the team and most supporters. We won the league last season with that ground. Im thinking they dont see the point in spending money because they will move shortly or they will just be knocking it again in the short future to build something proper.

With the 16 injuries. Some you cant avoid. Leader and Cooney happened last season.
White and Marshall are a worry, head injuries from last season.

I hate to say it as i am sure the branch are doing all they can, but the effort looks woefully amateur hour.

I expect longer term changes will come but my god, we are defending Pro12 champions in an uber-competitive sporting marketplace and into a new season we are erecting stands you really wouldn't see anywhere else at this level of sport.

We've had only one decent pre-season game and are counting 16 + injured before the first game even commences, with our marquee signing not due to arrive until November.

I know the other provinces have their injury worries too.

I really hope this is not an omen for a return to the mediocure days of old because the organisation can be so much more as already demonstrated. Just seems a bit of a shit way to start the new season after the highs and talk concluding last season.

Do you mean the uncovered terrace extension on the Main Stand side? Been there for a while now, but haven't seen any planning details for it.

The announcement probably refers to the same, single, covered temporary stand they've used for several years now. First year it was used (first HEC year) it was to the right of the main stand but it cramped access and exit, plus there was an unfortunately incident with water flooding off it into an adjacent garden (as it was so close to the boundary wall). It's been to the left since either as extra terracing or seating. Don't recall it being used last season at all.

Either way the capacity is closer to 6K than 8K without the extra temporary terracing at either end, which we've had no indication is going up for Saturday's game.

With the announcement about the stand...

Connacht Rugby wrote: Additional seated stand installed ahead of new season
31st August 2016

Connacht Rugby is delighted to confirm that an additional seated, and covered*, structure will be in place at the Sportsground for the 2016/17 season. The new stand, with allocated seating, will be located to the side of the Main Stand and will seat 300 supporters. Tickets for this stand are now on sale ahead of the Guinness PRO12 round 1 opener with Glasgow Warriors on Saturday (5:15pm).

Only Adult Tickets will be available to purchase for the seated stand and tickets start at €32.50 for category 2 games and €37.50 for category 1 games. Tickets are available online from tickets.ie, from selected Centra & SuperValu stores province-wide and from the Connacht Rugby office at the Sportsground.

Season Ticket Holders will have the option to upgrade to this area subject to availability on a match by match basis. Upgrade purchases are available on match day only and from the ticket box office (open 90 minutes before kick-off). The Season Ticket upgrade fee will be €10 for all games. All upgrades are granted on a first come first served basis.

I'd wonder is that it in addition to the existing temporary stand (on the left of the main stand as you face the pitch)? If new then adding about another 300 (?) to capacity up to the 8k mark..
They have PP to retain the existing Temp Stand until 15/09/2018, but I don't see a new one that would be required fro an additional structure, though they could be chancing their arm and looking to get retrospective PP once in place and tickets sold.

Galway City Council PLanning Ref: 12316 wrote: geo.galwaycity.ie/ePlan5/AppFileRefDetails/12316/0

Permission for retention for the following:

• Provision of a temporary covered spectator stand between the periods of 1st September and 30th April each year for a period of 5 years.
  
• Provision of a temporary marquee hospitality facility between the periods of 1st September and 30th April each year for a period of 5 years.
• Provision of additional palisade security fencing at the corner of the car park.
• New ticket office windows.
• Additional promotional sign adjoining the access road.

Couple points on this:

Terryland/Deacy Park pitch dimensions (not including runoffs) are (according to what Google throws up) 106 X 66 metres. Sportsground is 112X68 (98X68 with 7 metre in-goal areas); minimum class B international is 106X68 (96X68 with 5m. in-goals); minimum pitch in RWC 2015 was 110 X 68 (98X68 6m in-goals), so pitch size not much of an issue, certainly no need to move a road.

The Black Box is slated to be replaced by a new theatre/arts centre, not by additional car-parking.

While there are positives to the proposal - most notably that with the Comer Stand seating ~1500 Galway Utd.'s max. reported attendance just over 1600 this year neither party would be discommoded by development works - I strongly suspect that the dogs are being strong-armed here and this is (at least partly) kite-flying.

"Old stand will be demolished from what I hear to be replaced by a 4,000 seater stand. Comer stand will be extended and there will be a terrace at the carpark end with carparking on the dyke road. The black box is to be demolished with extra carparking in its place. Road will need to be widened as the pitch is extended. There could be a lot of red tape involved down the line. Bars and catering will probably be where the old dressing rooms are now."

that was just posted on the GUFC supporters forum,
People are suggesting to me that if it happens it will be an agreement similar to the one the FAI have with the IRFU for Landsdowne with you guys paying for a lot of the developments that will cover rent for a period. Still could all be rubbish but there appears to be a lot of smoke at the moment

Football Fan wrote: How yee lads, would only have a passing interest in rugby but this topic interests me as I would be a regular up in EDP. I would just like to point out that some of you guys seem to be working under the misconception that GUFC own EDP. The ground is actually owned in trust by the Galway youth FA. Thats why the banks could not get their hands on it when GUFC went to the wall in 2011. United are the anchor tenants in an agreement with the GFA, Salthill Devon and Mervue United. Although the playing surface is excellant, it currently hosts a lot of football. Pretty much every juvenile final, as well as schools and representative games are played there at the moment. The real issue Connacht will have using the ground will not be with GUFC but with the junior clubs around town. The majority of United fans who I have talked to are actually fairly supportive of Connacht using the ground cause they imagine it will lead to stadium developments. The ground itself is excellant, would be way ahead of the sportsground in terms of pitch views and seating but beyond that it is very basic, no bars etc. Also the walk up the Dyke road is a serious pain in the arse, parking stops at the Blackbox, and it is the coldest place in the world with the wind off the river during the winter.
When people talk about municipal stadiums around Galway, United are always mentioned but the fact is GUFC have very little real interest in moving at the moment Im afraid, cause EDP is ideal for their needs and is a purpose build football ground. I do think however it would suit you guys, but the capacity is a long way short of 12000 although it does have room for development, especially behind both goals. The other issue is that the GFA do not really need the money because football in Galway is something of an anomaly within the FAI in so far as it is very well run. So basically what I am saying in a round about way is I do not really think this is a runner.

Interesting insight. Cheers!

How yee lads, would only have a passing interest in rugby but this topic interests me as I would be a regular up in EDP. I would just like to point out that some of you guys seem to be working under the misconception that GUFC own EDP. The ground is actually owned in trust by the Galway youth FA. Thats why the banks could not get their hands on it when GUFC went to the wall in 2011. United are the anchor tenants in an agreement with the GFA, Salthill Devon and Mervue United. Although the playing surface is excellant, it currently hosts a lot of football. Pretty much every juvenile final, as well as schools and representative games are played there at the moment. The real issue Connacht will have using the ground will not be with GUFC but with the junior clubs around town. The majority of United fans who I have talked to are actually fairly supportive of Connacht using the ground cause they imagine it will lead to stadium developments. The ground itself is excellant, would be way ahead of the sportsground in terms of pitch views and seating but beyond that it is very basic, no bars etc. Also the walk up the Dyke road is a serious pain in the arse, parking stops at the Blackbox, and it is the coldest place in the world with the wind off the river during the winter.
When people talk about municipal stadiums around Galway, United are always mentioned but the fact is GUFC have very little real interest in moving at the moment Im afraid, cause EDP is ideal for their needs and is a purpose build football ground. I do think however it would suit you guys, but the capacity is a long way short of 12000 although it does have room for development, especially behind both goals. The other issue is that the GFA do not really need the money because football in Galway is something of an anomaly within the FAI in so far as it is very well run. So basically what I am saying in a round about way is I do not really think this is a runner.

I am all for ground sharing with other field sports, so a ground share with the likes of Galway United makes good sense. The problem for me is Terryland Park is not a strategic location by any means, so is a bit of a non runner.

But I do like the idea of sharing with them in a what is a relatively small town.

It's such a shame the dogs are such a constraint because a complete re-development of the Sportsground to include Galway United and perhaps turn Terryland into a purpose built training centre would be wonderful.

But the dogs would have to go for me for that to happen.

Anyone think that we should start a petition to makes greyhound racing illegal like they did in OZ you know for animal safety.

No alterior motive at all...

mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/greyho...sw-explained/7622052