A children’s rugby club in south Dublin has accused the Catholic Church of orchestrating a secret deal allowing the GAA to purchase its playing fields.
The proposed sale of the five-acre site in Cornelscourt has caused tension between Geraldines P Moran GAA, St Brigid’s Rugby Club and the Foxrock parish.
For almost 50 years, the two sporting bodies shared the grounds without conflict, but in recent weeks members of St Brigid’s were ‘shocked’ to learn that the Church had reached an agreement for the GAA club to purchase the grounds.
The deal is supported by the Dublin County Board, Leinster Council and Croke Park, who are assisting in negotiating the transaction.
It’s understood that the purchase of the land will be funded through debt financing and club fundraising.
The fee has not been disclosed. However, a report in The Irish Times this week suggested it could be worth €10.5million if sold to a property developer.
Morgan Cassidy, chairman of St Brigid’s, claims that if the GAA takes ownership, it will undermine the future of his club and may ultimately mean that its 160 young members will be forced to play elsewhere.
Geraldines GAA rejects this claim, stating that its written agreement ensures that the rugby club and other users will have continued use of the playing fields following the completion of the sale.
However, Mr Cassidy said Foxrock parish is demanding that the rugby club ‘sign a letter confirming that all future use of the field is at the behest of the GAA club’.
He told us: ‘We are shocked that this process has led to a secret deal that threatens to undermine the future of our club.
‘We were kept completely in the dark until the sale of the parish sports field was announced and we are no longer playing on a level playing field.
‘This behaviour has undermined the trust, co-operation and community spirit that has existed between the two clubs for almost 50 years.’
He added: ‘Subsequent attempts to limit our current equal access to the playing field and to stipulate quotas on how we manage our membership do nothing to restore that trust and are not in keeping with the commitments that the GAA made to Foxrock parish in a public statement issued last week.’
The sale is subject to approval by a special general meeting of adult voting members of the GAA club, which is yet to be convened.
Mr Cassidy said: ‘We have met with Foxrock parish and requested them to stop this sale, to maintain the status quo and diocesan trust which guarantees equitable access to the grounds, and to work with both clubs to achieve a fair and equitable agreement that benefits all parishioners for perpetuity.’
He added that ‘their decision to favour one sport over another is clearly unfair and it must be overturned’. He also said that ‘we are hugely disappointed that the GAA has acted in this way’.
Mr Cassidy continued: ‘It appears as if they want to stamp out underage rugby in Foxrock/Cabinteely in order to grow their own sport.
‘This is not how a modern sports organisation should be conducting itself and the real losers are our 160 young members who are being held back from enjoying both sports in their local community.’
Following speculation that Geraldines GAA is attempting to lessen or terminate St Brigid’s Rugby Club’s usage of the grounds, the GAA club issued a copy of the written agreement signed between the club and the parish on June 6, 2024.
It stated: ‘In consideration of the sale of the premises to the GAA Club, the GAA Club hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that it will permit the sporting clubs and other users to have continued use of the premises following the completion of the sale of the premises to the GAA Club for their various sporting activities and that the GAA Club will continue to permit the said use in the same manner as has taken place to date, in accordance with the extent of their use to date, as set out in the second schedule.’
The club added: ‘A redacted version of the side agreement was shared with the rugby club and they were asked to revert to the legal advisers of the parish to explain how it does not protect their usage.’
Mr Cassidy said that the agreement states that 80% of its members have to be a student of the St Brigid’s boys national school, which he claims is a clear effort to stop the club growing into the future.
‘However, the sale has not been completed yet so this isn’t a done deal,’ he said.
‘I’m appealing to the Church to stop it, come back and maintain the status quo that’s been there for over 50 years.’
Mr Cassidy added: ‘Let’s figure out what’s best for both clubs and not [be] preferring one party over another.’
Fr Gerry Kane of Foxrock parish was asked to comment on the ongoing dispute, but declined to do so.