Bohemians make deal over future of Dalymount Park

Dublin City Council

and

Bohemians

have agreed the main terms of a deal that will pave the way for

Dalymount Park

to be taken into public ownership and redeveloped over time as a home for the club and major public amenity for the Phibsborough area.

The ongoing difficulties in securing control of Tolka Park, however, has resulted in it and Shelbourne being dropped from the deal. The council abandoned its previous position that both grounds had to be involved for it to proceed.

In the case of Dalymount, a basic purchase of price of about €3.45 million had been already agreed. The money will notionally be paid to Bohemians, but in reality it is destined for Zurich, to which the club owes a significantly larger sum.

Critically, though, additional funds have now been found by the council and the FAI to help the deal over the line, and these will enable to club to clear other debts.

The breakthrough, which will be welcomed around Bohemians, was made amid concerns that further delays might have prompted Zurich to look at other options.

However, the news that Shelbourne have, at least for the moment, been omitted will receive a mixed reaction at that club. It is believed that the board was supportive of the idea of relocating to Dalymount and groundsharing while a section of the support was clearly opposed.

Tolka redevelopment

DCC had been keen to redevelop the Tolka Park site, and saw that as being a key element of the economics of the overall plan. The situation, though, is complicated by the financial affairs of Jerry O’Reilly, the developer who effectively controls the lease, and the involvement of Nama.

The council, which ultimately owns the site but not the lease, which has nearly 50 years to run, apparently remains open to Shelbourne being reintegrated into the Dalymount plan at a future date. For the moment, though, DCC has decided to press ahead with the other part of its plan.

"It's good news," said local Labour Party TD Joe Costello, who has been involved with the Dalymount negotiations.

“It’s a win-win for the area,” he added. “The new redeveloped ground will provide a new home for one of Ireland’s oldest football clubs, as well as an anchor for a local community that will gain far greater access to it through the schools, colleges and other groups that will get to use it.”