Roscommon GAA and Ros' Gaels reach agreement on Dr Hyde Park

Roscommon Gaels have agreed to let the Roscommon County Board assume control of Dr Hyde Park.

In a statement, Roscommon GAA County Board welcomed the decision of Roscommon Gaels to accept the agreement on the control of Dr Hyde Park, which was reached between the county board and Roscommon Gaels GAA Club a number of years ago.

The agreement was accepted by the Roscommon Gaels Club following an EGM of the club members last night (Thursday).

This decision ends a long drawn out saga and has enabled the county board to gain control of Dr Hyde Park - something that the GAA's Central Council and the Connacht Council have been anxious to achieve since the late 1990s.

Roscommon GAA County Board intend to draft plans for the improvement of facilities at Dr Hyde Park in order to restore its position as one of the premier GAA grounds in the country.

These plans will include the upgrading of the playing surface, spectator facilities and the incorporation of other facilities such as offices, catering facilities and indoor training facilities for all our inter-county teams, which are currently located elsewhere in Roscommon town.

As well as allowing for the improvement of Dr Hyde Park the decision will help provide a boost to the local economy, both during the renovation period and after the work is complete, as it will enable major inter county games and Connacht SFC finals in particular, to be hosted in the town again.

The board look forward to working with Roscommon Gaels, the local business community, the local authority and the GAA community in County Roscommon to complete the renovation and upgrading work as quickly as possible.

The county board thanked the following for their support, assistance and hard work during the process: Roscommon Gaels GAA Club and their Chairpersons over the past number of years - Tom Fitzmaurice, Harry Hoare, Michael McNeela, Michael Brehony and Micheál Gleeson; the Connacht GAA Council and in particular Secretary John Prenty, current President Frank Burke and former President Paddy Naughton; the staff of the GAA and Páraic Duffy, Ard Stiúrthóir, who took a keen interest in the process and their legal advisors led by Roisín Bennett of Reddy Charlton Solicitors.

Dr Hyde Park is located on the Athlone Road in Roscommon town and is the primary Gaelic games stadium in Co. Roscommon.

As part of the agreement Roscommon Gaels have a 999 year lease on the Dr Hyde Park Social Centre, a long term lease on the training pitch and playing rights in the stadium.