St Brigid’s RFC, a mini rugby club situated in south Dublin, has been denied access to its training ground at a critical time – just as the team resumes practice for their upcoming season. The denial of access is the latest development in an ongoing dispute with the local parish of Foxrock. The disagreement centres around the parish’s intention to sell their playing fields, shared with the club, to Geraldines P Moran GAA Club.
Geraldines P Moran GAA Club has communicated to its members about a forthcoming unique general assembly later this month, revealing their plan to acquire the five-acre field in Cornelscourt for €1 million. Experts suggest, if rezoned for residental purposes, it could potentially be worth up to an estimated €10.5 million.
However, the Rugby club objected to the selling process based on legal counsel arguing the current proposal is unenforceable. They highlighted their repeated entreaties to voice their legitimate concerns about their future rights to use the field, with hopes of addressing them through a legally binding resolution.
The parish responded by stating that the rugby club’s failure to take up these legitimate concerns led them to invalidate their right to use the shared field. They described this action as deeply unfortunate but necessary, while expressing their eagerness to discuss their concerns and rapidly restore their playing rights.
Club officials have rebutted this claim, insisting they have always maintained that their issue is not with the ownership of the field but rather its proposed sale. They also raised objections over the termination of their access, stating that it is a formal process that mandates certain notice periods which they say, have not been provided.
Pitches have already begun to be utilised by children aged six to twelve for training, with the remainder expected to commence sessions sometime this week or the following. The club does not possess any additional grounds.
The central issue at stake is the ongoing access rights to the pitches under the current conditions for the entirety of the 999-year lease that the church is offering to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club.
As part of the proposed sale, a secondary agreement, between the church and the GAA club, has been written. In it, it is stated that the GAA club will allow other field users to continue their usage “in the same manner as has taken place to date in accordance with the extent of their use to date”. However, subsequent conditions seem to contradict this commitment.
Additionally, a different letter – written between the church and the rugby club – contains, among other things, a statement by St. Brigid’s that any future sporting use of the pitch would be subject to the approval and agreement of the GAA club. This, they argue, falls considerably short of a clear-cut future right of access under the prevailing terms and conditions.
Though the parish asserts it has “repeatedly asked the rugby club to clarify any valid worries” it may have, so they can be rectified, St. Brigid’s argues that this has been on the condition that its officers approve a letter that would make their future pitch access reliant on the consent of the GAA club. The officials of the club have received legal counsel advising them against signing such a commitment letter.