Drogheda progress

THE proposed development of Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds cleared another major hurdle last week when Croke Park’s Health and Safety Committee approved the stadium design.

Louth chairman Des Halpenny stressed that there are still legal and financial details to be resolved between the County Board, the O Raghallaigh’s club and Croke Park, but that the design approval is another significant step in a delicate process.

‘It means we would be in a position to go ahead and apply for planning permission, but only when the other legal and financial requirements are met. The next stage is for us to go and meet the finance committee in Croke Park,’ he told the county committee.

The chairman refused to be drawn on whether an announcement on the re-development was imminent.

‘The financial side of it is the next step in terms of Croke Park, but as for the legal side of things I wouldn’t be able to put a timeframe on that at the moment.’

He did reveal, however, that a Croke Park engineer has been appointed to liaise with the board on the re-development.