Proposed Faithful Fields expansion put on hold

Plans for the expansion of facilities at the Offaly GAA Faithful Fields Centre of Excellence in Kilcormac have been put on hold.

Offaly County Council has requested further information from Offaly GAA regarding the proposed development at Ballybracken, Kilcormac, which includes the installation of a new all-weather astro turf pitch.

Expressing its concern that the proposed all weather surface "will intensify the use of the overall facility at Faithful Fields", the local authority is seeking clarification on a number of traffic management and safety related issues. The council wants to address "vehicular movements to and from the N52 and along the adjoining private laneway".

The planning authority has requested the Offaly GAA County Board "to submit a Road Safety Audit and Traffic and Transport Assessment undertaken by a suitably qualified person for the proposed development" to address such traffic management and safety issues.

A "revised junction arrangement" has also been requested by the planning authority "as a result of the proposed intensification of development at Faithful Fields".

Offaly County Council has also expressed concern that "dedicated emergency and maintenance vehicle entrance to the proposed all-weather pitch via an existing laneway" would be "used as a traffic route in large events thus intensifying the traffic" and "posing a serious risk to traffic safety" at the location.

The planning authority has also requested further information from Offaly County Board on how parking will be "deterred along the edge of the N52 outside the proposed and existing developments".

The current Faithful Fields complex consists of four full-sized floodlit playing pitches; meeting rooms; dressing rooms; a state-of-the-art gym; catering facilities; and an all-weather warm up area.

A full stand, permanent scoreboard and fencing were added to the original complex in 2019.