Cuala awaiting response from GAA

Following last weekend's meeting of the GAA finance committee, the Cuala club in Dalkey will discover in the coming days if their request for funding to purchase part of Blackrock College rugby club's land will be able to continue as planned.

Cuala and Blackrock have signed a memorandum of understanding for a ground purchase/sharing arrangement, valued at €2.5 million, which would in turn erase the rugby club's €1.1 million debt.

Redevelop
The proposed deal would also see Cuala redevelop the bottom pitches at Stradbrook into an all weather surface. Floodlights would also be installed and hurling, Gaelic football, camogie and rugby utilise a multi-sports facility in the south Dublin suburb.

Cuala are seeking around half the total figure for the project from the GAA central coffers while raising the rest of the funds internally and through private benefactors.

The neighbouring clubs have been meeting on a weekly basis, both represented by three-men committees, as they endeavour to bring their memorandum of understanding - which prohibits any discussions with a third party - to the heads of agreement stage.

"We haven't heard anything yet from the GAA," said Cuala secretary Declan Murray. "The earliest would be Thursday or Friday this week.

“If all (of the funds requested) came through we would be ready to go. If not we would have to do a bit of saving.”

Blackrock president John Smyth added: "We are not putting any deadline on the project. We are making good progress in discussions but these things take time."