An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. was the special guest at the Sportsground last Friday, as Connacht Rugby revealed that its redevelopment on college road is now “shovel ready” with full planning consent secured.
The initial redevelopment plans were introduced following an arrangement reached between the Irish Greyhound Board and the freehold owners of the Sportsground, the Galway agricultural and sports Society, with respect to a shared vision for the future of the Sportsground.
During his visit, Mr Varadkar was introduced to the professional playing squad who were holding a community check out for 200 kids from Scoil Chaitríona NS, Renmore. He was also informed in detail on the progress of the Sportsground redevelopment, which includes licence agreements with special Olympics Ireland and the community games for use of the upgraded facilities.
The €30m project will include a full redevelopment of the stadium, in addition to a multi-use indoor High performance training Centre. With €10m in private funding authorized through a mixture of Connacht Rugby funds and an authorized bank credit report facility, the specify investment of €20m is now vital to the delivery of the project. The project has been the subject of an independent economic appraisal by economist Dr Kevin Hannigan of KHSK economic Consultants who found through a cost benefit analysis that the project will produce a net benefit of 53%.
The tactical benefits of the project to the entire region are also closely aligned with the Government’s national planning Framework, project Ireland 2040 in addition to the national sports Policy, all of which highlight the need for a regional spread of capital investment throughout the country. It also fulfils the need for improved sports facilities in the region, determined in the Galway City development Plan.
Connacht Rugby’s redevelopment of the Sportsground Camiseta Sport Club Internacional is now “shovel ready” with full planning consent having been secured
Welcoming An Taoiseach to the Sportsground, CEO of Connacht Rugby, Willie Ruane, commented:
We are pleased to have An Taoiseach in the Sportsground to receive an update on our redevelopment project. There has been substantial momentum behind the project because we revealed last October, and we now have the final granting of planning permission. With 130 people employed throughout the province by Connacht Rugby we are incredibly happy of the annual contribution of €34.4m we are making to the regional economy. We have €10m in private funding to give the table through a mixture of Connacht Rugby funds and an authorized bank credit report facility. The project is now shovel ready and the remaining €20m specify investment is vital to its delivery.
As part of Connacht Rugby’s statement of planning consent for the Sportsground development their new video “HOME’ was also introduced by An Taoiseach on his visit. The short film was created by award-winning film maker Lorcan Hynes from Foxford, county Mayo, and shot in various places around the province over the past few months. The film highlights the people and the diverse nature Camiseta Leeds United of the landscape of the West of Ireland.
Commenting on the video, Ruane added:
The concept of the film is based on Connacht Rugby’s purpose which goes Camiseta SSC Napoli beyond the role of rugby and represents everything that is good about the province of Connacht. The video corresponds with our journey to build a new home at the Sportsground, but our home and our purpose extends far beyond that to every corner of the province.
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Brian Mahony, Head of commercial & marketing at Connacht Rugby, is one of a hold of industry expert speakers verified to share insights at the 2019 edition of ALSD international – Europe’s leading event for the premium Seat & Hospitality industry – concerning the iconic Croke Park stadium in Dublin this October, 28-29.
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