Pairc Tailteann upgrade set for big leap forward
IN his final address as county chairman, Conor Tormey told delegates at last week’s convention that the process of developing Pairc Tailteann into a modern, state-of-the-art stadium will take another giant leap forward early next year if the planning application for a 4,000-seater stand is approved by Meath County Council.
He said that much will depend on funding, but it was their desire to build a stadium in Navan that the people of Meath could be proud of.
After five years as chairman Tormey said that the county now leads the way in communications, have developed one of the finest Centres of Excellence in the country, operate one of the most structured and impressive underage development programmes for both football and hurling and have some of the best minds in the country working for Meath GAA.
He described Andy McEntee’s first year in charge as a mixed bag but said that there had been significant progress made by the county hurlers in the past five seasons, with Christy Ring Cup success in 2016 and an NHL Division 2 crown this year. There was praise for senior hurling manager Martin Ennis, who didn’t seek a fourth term, and also for his successor Nick Fitzgerald after he guided the county to a couple of impressive wins in the Leinster MHC and also to the All-Ireland MHC ‘B’ title.
Tormey said the continued appointment of more Games Promotion Officers and Games Development Administrators has improved many aspects of the GAA within Meath as employees have increased from two full-time and four part-time staff to 20 employees.
He said one of his proudest achievements over the past five years was bringing monthly County Board meetings to 18 clubs around the county.
The completion of Phase Two of the work in Dunganny was another highlight of the outgoing chairman who said that there were further plans for Phase Three at Dunganny.
Another achievement during the past five years was the introduction of ticketing machines at a number of venues across the county which has helped turn a €200,000 deficit into a €400,000 surplus in finances.
The chairman said he also endured a number of disappointments during his term, including the failure to win a Leinster SFC title and not having the privilege of presenting his own club Donaghmore/Ashbourne with the Keegan Cup.