Submissions lodged against Southern Gaels new home plan

Three submissions opposing a planning bid by Southern Gaels Hurling and Camogie Club for a new home at Knockanea, Ballydonagh, have been made to Westmeath County Council.

A landowner on the private cul-de-sac where planning permission is being sought by the GAA club has submitted a number of observations to the local authority citing his reasons for opposing the proposed development.

Joseph Duffy, Kilgarvin, Fardrum, Athlone, said the proposed development "raises a lot of serious safety, ecological and viability concerns".

Jennifer Duffy, also of Kilgarvin, Fardrum, made a submission asking Westmeath County Council to refuse permission.

Meanwhile, Liam Madden, on behalf of David Bracken, The Pound, Ballycumber who successfully appealed a previous decision by Westmeath County Council to approve a planning application by Southern Gaels for the same site in July 2025, made a submission , stating that the planning application is "almost identical" to the initial permission sought by Southern Gaels and Camogie club which was refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála. He submitted this application should be refused for the same reasons.

Southern Gaels Hurling and Camogie club is proposing the development of a new playing pitch with floodlights, two goal ball stops, perimeter pitch netting, two dugouts and a groundskeeper's shed on a greenfield site of almost 13 acres close to exits 8 and 7 of the M6 motorway.

The project in the Fardrum area also includes a walking track with public lighting, car park facility, works to the site entrance and signage.

In his lengthy submission to Westmeath County Council, Joseph Duffy said the site was "totally unsuitable in every way" to be used as a GAA pitch, adding that the proposed development will "adversely affect the safety of road users on the R446" and the "adjacent motorway".

He said the volume of cars "entering and exiting the pitch" to transport hurling and camogie players to the site for training sessions and matches would be such that "coming into a cul-de-sac off a 100km/h national road" would "create an extreme hazard" and be "ludicrous".

The complainant added that "traffic stacking" would occur on the road with vehicles "trying to turn left into the cul-de-sac and cars trying to exit the cul-de-sac at the same time".

Duffy said the figures provided for club matches to support the car park of 48 spaces, two disabled spaces and two bus spaces "seem a little on the low side".

Expressing his concern at the number of car parking spaces allocated as part of the proposed development, he queried "where will this spillover of vehicles park, on the cul-de-sac, blocking entrances to farm land or parked along the narrow cul-de-sac, causing impediment to incoming/outgoing vehicles (ambulances, tractors and farm machinery)".

In his submission, Mr Duffy said access to the site of the proposed development by bicycle was "not suitable" and "it is scary to hear of people being encouraged to cycle here".

Mr Duffy also stated that the "effects of floodlighting, clearance and disturbance of the greenfield site" will have a "detrimental effect on local and established wildlife" at the location.

"Over spill of lighting onto both the R446 and motorway will certainly prove to be a major distraction where some of these lights will be 18 meters tall and will be quite close to the road side," Duffy stated.

In her submission, Jennifer Duffy cited road safety and traffic volume amongst her concerns on the proposed development, noting that the new planning application submitted was “almost identical” to the previous submission rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

The planning application received support from a number of public representatives.

Cllr Frankie Keena, in a representation, said the proposed development is in an "ideal location" for this "rapidly growing club to develop its own grounds".

"It is imperative that this club is awarded the opportunity to develop their own grounds to cater for the influx of new members," he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr John Gibbons, in a formal submission, said the project "will enhance sport and recreation facilities in the South Westmeath area".

"It will provide an amenity area and sporting facility that is much needed for the benefit of the community. Its location outside the main urban area but with easy access to main roads and public realm projects will ensure that it is of benefit long into the future," Cllr Gibbons said.

There were also written representations of support from local Minister of State Deputy Robert Troy, Athlone-Moate Municipal District Mayor, Cllr Liam McDaniel, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke and Cllr Vinny McCormack.

The planning application is due to receive a decision from Westmeath County Council on or before September 6.