“The Clones Community Hub and St. Tiernach’s Quarter Regeneration Project will leverage the potential of the town’s iconic GAA stadium, adjacent Peace Link and strategic border location”
St Tiernach’s Park in Clones has been granted a further €664,668 as part of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The famous old GAA ground has hosted almost every Ulster senior county championship final in the last 50 years and has been earmarked for a major redevelopment.
It was announced this week that Irish government minster Dara Calleary has granted the Clones Community Hub and St. Tiernach’s Quarter Regeneration Project with a funding allocation of €664,668. “A multi-purpose community hub” and “public realm upgrades” were stated as the main purpose for the St Tiernach’s Park grant in an official statement, with training facilities, multimedia resources and meeting spaces amongst the amenities due for construction.
Senator Robbie Gallagher has praised the hard work and community input involved in the application. He told Northern Sound: “This is a game changer for Clones and St Tiernach’s Park and I congratulate all involved in the process that has brought us to this point. The RRDF Category 2 proposal was prepared by Monaghan County Council in partnership with key local community organisations and the GAA.
“The proposed multipurpose Hub (1,100 sq. metres redevelopment) will involve the appointment of an Architect-led Integrated Design Team that will deliver; Architectural and Engineering designs to enable the development of the multi-purpose Community Hub.
“This project envisions the redevelopment of St. Tiernach’s Quarter of Clones town is to enhance the built environment and create sustainable economic and employment opportunities, increase social cohesion and reduce deprivation. The Clones Community Hub and St. Tiernach’s Quarter Regeneration Project will leverage the potential of the town’s iconic GAA stadium, adjacent Peace Link and strategic border location.
“It will cater for a range of community uses, including facilities for the greater Clones area, office space for social enterprise and community service providers to operate from, rental meeting space, events space and multi-use training and multimedia facilities. This project has incredible potential for the town of Clones and the surrounding area and this funding will be a tremendous investment for the future.”
Cllr PJ O’Hanlon, chairman of Monaghan County Council, added: “It’s a proud moment for Clones and for County Monaghan. This investment will help revitalise the heart of the town and support the kind of inclusive, forward-thinking development that our communities deserve. I commend everyone involved in shaping the vision and securing this funding.”
While Clones does not host the same volume of games that it would have in past decades, the Ulster final is almost always held there and brings 29,000 GAA fans to the small market town which has a population of less than 2,000.
Last year, Monaghan’s near-neighbours Cavan were been given the green light for a redevelopment of Breffni Park, with €19 million to be invested to construct Europe’s very first net zero energy and carbon embodied stadium.
Elsewhere in Ulster, the Casement Park project still appears a long way from completion, with a huge £100 million funding gap in place despite assurances from the governments in London and Dublin. Planning permission for the west Belfast ground revamp is due to expire next July.
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