End In Sight Over O'Connor Park Lease Dispute Between Tullamore And Offaly GAA

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 at 12:17

Tullamore GAA and Offaly County Board are moving towards a resolution.

Two solutions are on the horizon in Tulllamore GAA's dispute with Offaly County Board over the lease of O'Connor Park.

The lease in question was signed in 2002 for over three decades but covid-19 has created a disagreement about repayments.

Offaly County Board essentially sought a three month rent break in 2020 due to the shutdown of games during the national lockdown which would have saved them around €14,000 in repayments.

This was rejected by Tullamore who received just over €42,000 instead of the €56,000 they were expecting over the course of the calendar year.

The potential resolutions involve Tullamore GAA, Offaly GAA and an independent adjudicator from Croke Park sitting down to discuss a termination of the current agreement or Offaly County Board buying out the remainder of the 16 year lease.

The other option is a change in the structure of the payments. Currently rent is payed in two lump sums throughout the year and the new proposal would see a charge of €5,000 a month replacing it.

At the moment a total of €47,600 is owed to June of this year including interest but not counting for the €14,000 outstanding from 2020.

A re-evaluation of the club levy has also taken place with the following bands decided:

€3,800 - Tullamore

€3,300 - Birr, Clara, Clodiagh Gaels, Edenderry, Gracefield, Kilcormac/Killoughey, Rhode, Shamrocks.

€2,600 - Ballycumber, Coolderry, Ferbane, Kinnitty, Shinrone and St Rynagh's hurling.

€2,400 - Ballyskenagh/Killavilla, Bracknagh, Daingean, Drumcullen, Durrow, Kilclonfert, Raheen, St Brigid's, St Rynagh's football, Tubber, Walsh Island

€1,700 - Ballinamere, Belmont, Doon, Erin Rovers, Lusmagh, Seir Kieran, Shannonbridge.

TBC - Ballinagar, Ballycommon, Ballyfore, Cappincur, Carrig/Riverstown, Clonbullogue, Clonmore Harps and Crinkle.

The shakeout of this will mean that Tullamore are contributing the most towards paying rent back to themselves.