Geraldine P Moran, affectionately referred to as “the Gers”, and one of Dublin’s oldest Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs, has recently purchased a five-acre playing field nestled in some of the city’s most desirable residential areas. A property developer might have forked out up to €10.5 million for the plot.
Having been established in 1886, the Gers have a long and illustrious history, with representatives participating in the very first Dublin County Board meeting. The team also took part in the inaugural Dublin senior county championship final in 1888, which remains the closest they have been to lifting the prestigious senior county title.
Unlike many Dublin GAA clubs, the Gers have been without a field of their own for the bulk of their existence. In the past 65 years, their home ground has been a parish field in Cornelscourt, managed by the Foxrock Catholic parish for the Dublin diocese trust free of charge, and adjacent to a Dunnes Stores. No official legal entitlement to the land or its access was ever established by the club previously.
Approximately a year ago, the club officials put forth plans for much-needed facility upgrades to the parish. The response, however, was unexpected. The parish expressed its intentions to relinquish the land and queried if the Gers were interested in purchasing it.
The news was greeted with enthusiasm by the senior club officials. The only stipulation from the church was that the ground’s primary purpose as a sporting and community hub continued, and that the needs of all existing users were catered for.
The pitch has long been shared with a local mini rugby club, St Brigid’s RFC, and has been regularly used by the St Brigid’s Boys National School, located on nearby Mart Lane in Foxrock.
Located on the main Dublin-Wexford N11 road, the site was coveted property and would likely have attracted a high level of interest had it been made generally available. It has long been rumoured in local circles that Dunnes Stores sought the site to enlarge its retail outlet in Cornelscourt, one of Ireland’s largest.
A Dublin commercial real estate expert’s preliminary estimates suggest that a particular site could be worth up to €10.5 million if residential zoning were permitted and access to the site was improved. This estimates assumes the procurement of two or more residences adjacent to the playing fields along Old Bray Road at Cornelscourt, near Dunnes Stores. While the actual purchase price for the land has not been made public, it is believed to be significantly lower than this projected valuation.
The transaction will reportedly be financed through a combination of loans and club fundraising, with the Gaelic Athletic Association providing some interim financing. A stipulation in the contract between the selling church and the club mandates the church to receive any excess profit if the land is resold for non-sporting purposes, or activities not aligned to the current users of the site.
Geraldine P Moran club, which boasts 850 members and 30 teams that participate in football, hurling, and camogie for various age groups, will stand to benefit. Club chairman, Ger Moffatt, expressed excitement about the prospective development, acknowledging the contributions of the Foxrock parish and outgoing Parish Priest, Father Gerry Kane for their community-centric decision.
The support from the Dublin County Board, Leinster Council and the central Croke Park team in facilitating the completion of this transaction is also recognised by the club. A special general meeting, which is yet to be scheduled, is needed to ratify the deal – an outcome the club is optimistic about – as long as at least 15 percent of registered adult members attend and a majority vote in favour.