Foxrock rugby club calls on Church to stop sale of local playing field to GAA

Ellen O'Donoghue

A children’s rugby club in Foxrock has called on the Catholic Church to stop the proposed sale of a five-acre playing field to the GAA.

The St Brigid’s Rugby club are calling on the church to continue operating a charitable trust that permits it to use the sports grounds for the benefit of its 160 young members aged between 5 and 13 years old.

The club have said they are seriously concerned that the GAA is attempting to impose conditions that are in breach of equality legislation and, contrary to GAA Central Council Rules, will have the effect of stymying the growth of the club and the equal access they have mutually enjoyed to date.

The community rugby club has expressed concern about the lack of openness around the proposed sale of the sports field to Geraldines Patrick Moran GAA Club and the fact that Foxrock parish precluded them from the process.

They have said that the process should have been open and transparent to both parties in the tight-knit community where many children play across both clubs.

Geraldines Patrick Moran GAA recently announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Foxrock Parish Sports Field, which is located next to Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, for an undisclosed sum.

The deal has been supported by the Dublin County Board, Leinster Council and Croke Park, who are assisting in negotiating the transaction.

Foxrock Parish has asked that St Brigid’s Rugby Club sign a letter confirming that all future use of the field is at the behest of the GAA club.

Foxrock Parish Sports Field has been managed by Foxrock Parish for a diocesan trust up until now, with this agreement affording St. Brigid’s RFC, Geraldines Patrick Moran GAA Club and local schools with equitable access for almost 50 years.

In September 2022, the club agreed to work together with Geraldines Patrick Moran GAA Club in approaching Foxrock Parish to allow the clubs to upgrade the grounds. It was agreed that the GAA Club would initiate contact with Foxrock Parish.

Morgan Cassidy, chairperson of St Brigid’s RFC said that the club are shocked that the process led to a “secret deal” that threatens to undermine the future of the club.

“We were kept completely in the dark until the sale of the parish sports field was announced, and we are no longer playing on a level playing field,” Mr Cassidy said.

He also said that the behaviour had undermined the trust, co-operation and community spirit that has existed between the two clubs for almost 50 years.

“Subsequent attempts to limit our current equal access to the playing field and to stipulate quotas on how we manage our membership do nothing to restore that trust and are not in keeping with the commitments that the GAA made to Foxrock Parish in a public statement issued last week,” he said.

“We have met with Foxrock Parish and requested them to stop this sale, to maintain the status quo and diocesan trust which guarantees equitable access to the grounds, and to work with both clubs to achieve a fair and equitable agreement that benefits all parishioners for perpetuity.

“Their decision to favour one sport over another is clearly unfair, and it must be overturned,” he added.

The sale is allegedly subject to approval by a special general meeting of adult voting members of Geraldines Patrick Moran GAA club which has yet to be convened.

St Brigid’s RFC have said they are calling on the adult voting members of the GAA club to consider what has transpired and to vote “with their conscience to reject the sale to protect the interests of the many children who currently enjoy playing both rugby and GAA in their local community.”