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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To jobber:  "You just gave Paddy Wallace his job description.Totally agree time for action and change and less moaning.Best of luck to him and hopefully he leads us to a brighter more optimistic future."
I think one of the main problems is the proposed development of a COE in Robinstown outside of Mullingar. There are many who are not on board with this idea and are not being listened to and as a result have not backed the fundraisers. For a project of that size and expense you need to have everyone on board or at the very least have their concerns listened to.

Personally, while I think it is a good location, not at the cost we are paying for it and then to develop. I think there would be land far cheaper in a rural area and we have seen with other counties that it is possible to build these COE's away from towns.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 711 - 15/12/2025 08:56:32    2648372

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Replying To Meridian:  "I think one of the main problems is the proposed development of a COE in Robinstown outside of Mullingar. There are many who are not on board with this idea and are not being listened to and as a result have not backed the fundraisers. For a project of that size and expense you need to have everyone on board or at the very least have their concerns listened to.

Personally, while I think it is a good location, not at the cost we are paying for it and then to develop. I think there would be land far cheaper in a rural area and we have seen with other counties that it is possible to build these COE's away from towns."
I don't deny that in the short term the centre of excellence would be cheaper in a rural area.But where would the critics have it?.I have heard places like Tyrellspass mentioned but if that were the case it simply drives the hurling teams expenses through the roof .A lot of Western teams will use it and make it a at least cost even in Mullingar as it is so accessible.We need to not just think in the now

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1849 - 15/12/2025 11:37:24    2648391

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Replying To Meridian:  "I think one of the main problems is the proposed development of a COE in Robinstown outside of Mullingar. There are many who are not on board with this idea and are not being listened to and as a result have not backed the fundraisers. For a project of that size and expense you need to have everyone on board or at the very least have their concerns listened to.

Personally, while I think it is a good location, not at the cost we are paying for it and then to develop. I think there would be land far cheaper in a rural area and we have seen with other counties that it is possible to build these COE's away from towns."
50 acres @ €1 million with utilities (water, 3 phase electricity etc) adjacent to good roads in a large town represents decent enough value at current land prices. Most rural land is at €15k per acre at moment and that is even in isolated areas with poor infrastructure.

Greengrass1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 41 - 15/12/2025 12:58:09    2648401

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Replying To johnnyh:  "Watched their Semi Final. They are excellent. Standard at this level in Kildare is superior to many footballing Counties at Senior level and, should Sallins prevail, the last 3 Champions of this title will have come from Kildare. They have no real weaknesses but Tubberclair are a very solid side and I expect them to be comfortable next year in Senior B. They have nothing to lose and, while the odds are ridiculous, it's really difficult to see them winning, especially in Newbridge."
Hard luck to Tubberclair yesterday. I thought when the drew level in the 2nd half that they had the momentum to go on and win the game with the wind advantage. Sallins however showed their class to hold on.
Just wondering why Tubberclair play senior B next season rather than Senior? Do intermediate champions in Westmeath not automatically play senior the following year?

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3061 - 15/12/2025 14:01:12    2648410

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Replying To Greengrass1:  "50 acres @ €1 million with utilities (water, 3 phase electricity etc) adjacent to good roads in a large town represents decent enough value at current land prices. Most rural land is at €15k per acre at moment and that is even in isolated areas with poor infrastructure."
Westmeath Examiner
Published: Sat 3 Feb 2024
"Concerns about access to the land were addressed by Head of Operations Patrick Doherty, who explained a right of way will be provided.

"There's a big gateway already there, an indentation in the streetscape to allow for a turn-in there, a roadway. That would have been all built as part of the link road development. Access to the site will be from the link road and that roadway will be our responsibility to build and we will be granted a right of way across the HSE land to the site," he explained.

The roadway will be approximately 150m long."

I never understood this at the time? What I take from this is Westmeath GAA have to build a road but they don't own it? How much will the road cost to be build?
HSE could take the right-away in the future and Westmeath would have no access to COE?

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 597 - 15/12/2025 14:04:52    2648412

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Not sure what's to be achieved by going back on the deal that's been made if that was even possible legally? Finding another suitable site would take at least 12 months to source and purchase. Is that not putting it on the long finger even more?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2498 - 15/12/2025 14:19:11    2648417

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Replying To lilywhite1:  "Hard luck to Tubberclair yesterday. I thought when the drew level in the 2nd half that they had the momentum to go on and win the game with the wind advantage. Sallins however showed their class to hold on.
Just wondering why Tubberclair play senior B next season rather than Senior? Do intermediate champions in Westmeath not automatically play senior the following year?"
They will play Senior. There is no senior B in football in Westmeath. The SFC consists of 2 groups A and B. B is seen as the weaker section and Tubberclair as intermediate champions will play in section B. Top 2 teams in section B go through to quarter finals while top 4 in section A go through - 2 to semi, 2 to quarter.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1225 - 15/12/2025 14:57:04    2648425

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Not sure what's to be achieved by going back on the deal that's been made if that was even possible legally? Finding another suitable site would take at least 12 months to source and purchase. Is that not putting it on the long finger even more?"
What position do you hold within the county board?

Over the past year all of your posts have pushed back against people in this forum who criticize the county board for poor decision-making. You seem to be the only person here who doesn't acknowledge the damage the county board has caused over the last five years. Majority of clubs have no trust in the CB as they have been promised COE for a long time now and not one sod of soil has moved. I am hopeful that the new CB led by Paddy Wallace and Paula Finan can come up with some ideas to fix the relationships that have been lost over the last 5 years.

Best of luck to them!

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 597 - 15/12/2025 15:09:36    2648428

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Replying To Temple56:  "Westmeath Examiner
Published: Sat 3 Feb 2024
"Concerns about access to the land were addressed by Head of Operations Patrick Doherty, who explained a right of way will be provided.

"There's a big gateway already there, an indentation in the streetscape to allow for a turn-in there, a roadway. That would have been all built as part of the link road development. Access to the site will be from the link road and that roadway will be our responsibility to build and we will be granted a right of way across the HSE land to the site," he explained.

The roadway will be approximately 150m long."

I never understood this at the time? What I take from this is Westmeath GAA have to build a road but they don't own it? How much will the road cost to be build?
HSE could take the right-away in the future and Westmeath would have no access to COE?"
Nothing really new in that. HSE probably want to use the road to access the remaining lands. If they withdraw consent they are in breach of contract and that wouldn't make sense. HSE will probably sell lands in the future so have no interest in funding the 150m length of road. I'm sure the cost was on the table when agreeing sale price.
Geographically I think it's a good location but I am a Mullingar resident. Is the proximity to the Lomans astro (funded by Leinster GAA) a factor plus Shamrocks' new development across the road ? Surely the debate about location has moved on although did the planning application ever get lodged - I don't think so ?

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1225 - 15/12/2025 15:10:18    2648429

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Replying To BigSur:  "Nothing really new in that. HSE probably want to use the road to access the remaining lands. If they withdraw consent they are in breach of contract and that wouldn't make sense. HSE will probably sell lands in the future so have no interest in funding the 150m length of road. I'm sure the cost was on the table when agreeing sale price.
Geographically I think it's a good location but I am a Mullingar resident. Is the proximity to the Lomans astro (funded by Leinster GAA) a factor plus Shamrocks' new development across the road ? Surely the debate about location has moved on although did the planning application ever get lodged - I don't think so ?"
St Lomans astro??
Funded by Leinster???
I think you are at least partially wrong on both counts.
If I remember right it Lomans and Westmeath and was funded by Westmeath and Leinster

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1849 - 15/12/2025 17:18:50    2648441

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Not sure what's to be achieved by going back on the deal that's been made if that was even possible legally? Finding another suitable site would take at least 12 months to source and purchase. Is that not putting it on the long finger even more?"
12 months is nothing right location is everything it's for the benefit of all Westmeath around Kilbeggan or Tyrrellspass would be the right choice motorway in and out of it access would be straightforward

Undertheroad (Westmeath) - Posts: 86 - 15/12/2025 18:13:09    2648448

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "12 months is nothing right location is everything it's for the benefit of all Westmeath around Kilbeggan or Tyrrellspass would be the right choice motorway in and out of it access would be straightforward"
Didnt realise Kilbeggan had a motorway to Delvin and Pollard

Leftpeg1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 103 - 15/12/2025 21:56:29    2648467

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "12 months is nothing right location is everything it's for the benefit of all Westmeath around Kilbeggan or Tyrrellspass would be the right choice motorway in and out of it access would be straightforward"
So tell me how are you going to pay the Minimum extra 100k in expenses to the hurlers, the extra good costs of bringing the food from North of Mullingar to Kilbeggan. Not to minds having Finea,Ballycomoyle,St Pauls,Delvin football and hurling,Castlepollard,Lough Lene Gaels, Brownstown,Ringtown,Crookedwood and the county chairmans Multifarnham,the last chairmans Ballynacargy all up in arms at having to travel to Kilbeggan for underage knock out games. You my friend are living in cloud cuckoo land

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1849 - 15/12/2025 22:12:08    2648471

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Replying To BigSur:  "They will play Senior. There is no senior B in football in Westmeath. The SFC consists of 2 groups A and B. B is seen as the weaker section and Tubberclair as intermediate champions will play in section B. Top 2 teams in section B go through to quarter finals while top 4 in section A go through - 2 to semi, 2 to quarter."
Thanks for clarifying BigSur.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3061 - 15/12/2025 22:31:10    2648473

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Replying To jobber:  "So tell me how are you going to pay the Minimum extra 100k in expenses to the hurlers, the extra good costs of bringing the food from North of Mullingar to Kilbeggan. Not to minds having Finea,Ballycomoyle,St Pauls,Delvin football and hurling,Castlepollard,Lough Lene Gaels, Brownstown,Ringtown,Crookedwood and the county chairmans Multifarnham,the last chairmans Ballynacargy all up in arms at having to travel to Kilbeggan for underage knock out games. You my friend are living in cloud cuckoo land"
I think everyone is bit out here the problem is having a centre of excellence no matter where location is better to have one than not. Would Kinnegad mullignar or athlone

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1126 - 15/12/2025 22:36:32    2648474

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Replying To jobber:  "St Lomans astro??
Funded by Leinster???
I think you are at least partially wrong on both counts.
If I remember right it Lomans and Westmeath and was funded by Westmeath and Leinster"
The astroturf pitch is solely a Leinster council gig. Leinster council funded the whole development dressing rooms included and infact they still own it. Not exactly sure on the right name for it but the guy who is in charge of taking bookings etc for the Astro is in some way employed by Leinster council. Westmeath had little to do with it and Lomans even less so.

I think it does be overlooked at times that Lomans have only 1 proper playing pitch of their own which is amazing and after seeing a few school games on it recently the pitch is in need of some serious work.

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 343 - 15/12/2025 23:26:05    2648483

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "12 months is nothing right location is everything it's for the benefit of all Westmeath around Kilbeggan or Tyrrellspass would be the right choice motorway in and out of it access would be straightforward"
Clearly some people need to get a map and a compass to understand where is central in Westmeath. Killbegan is less tha1.5 miles from the Offaly border and Tyrrelspass is less than 2 miles from the Offaly border, hardly central.
The price paid for the COE land by any standard is very reasonable with many services close at hand,though i would caution if allowance need to be made for drainage of the site.
The Dectractor on here need to consider why they are being negitive, and if their negitivity ultimatly benifits Westmeath Gaa

BarrRst (Westmeath) - Posts: 46 - 16/12/2025 00:17:12    2648485

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You're all arguing over little details. The players currently get expenses to drive to Dublin and the footballers train in Athlone. Having a base is going to be amazing for our teams. Training on a grass pitch vs Astro pitches is going to be huge for the squads.

The main problem imo is the land is supposed to be ****, and it won't happen for years anyways. Have they even given a timeline on any aspect of it? The location is fine but traffic could be crazy there on Saturdays with Lomans and Shamrocks new facilities in close proximity and they operate nursery on Saturdays with huge numbers.

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 120 - 16/12/2025 07:51:39    2648489

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Replying To jobber:  "So tell me how are you going to pay the Minimum extra 100k in expenses to the hurlers, the extra good costs of bringing the food from North of Mullingar to Kilbeggan. Not to minds having Finea,Ballycomoyle,St Pauls,Delvin football and hurling,Castlepollard,Lough Lene Gaels, Brownstown,Ringtown,Crookedwood and the county chairmans Multifarnham,the last chairmans Ballynacargy all up in arms at having to travel to Kilbeggan for underage knock out games. You my friend are living in cloud cuckoo land"
Finea to Tyrrellspass 48 Minutes
Glasson to Robinstown 44 Minutes

You have proven the exact point why the county is fractured; it's all about North Westmeath. God forbid underage players would have to drive 45 Minutes for a county final in a top of the range pitch and facility.

So it's ok for the players from Athlone, Tang, Maryland, Garrycastle, Tubberclair etc to travel 44 Minutes to Robinstown where the proposed COE is, but it's an issue for Northern clubs to travel the other way. Clonmellon to Tyrrellspass is less than Glasson to Robinstown, I'm using Glasson as I think it's the most Southern point in the county.

Are a lot of the county hurlers not from Castletown, Raharney, Clonkill and surrounding areas anyhow.

The above is the very reason most didn't get behind the COE; it's location bang in the middle of two of our biggest Mullingar clubs. Every man and dog on the street knows it should be further south towards Loughnavalley direction. I don't think the original poster is in cuckoo land, you are my friend.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 189 - 16/12/2025 08:30:33    2648491

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Replying To Temple56:  "What position do you hold within the county board?

Over the past year all of your posts have pushed back against people in this forum who criticize the county board for poor decision-making. You seem to be the only person here who doesn't acknowledge the damage the county board has caused over the last five years. Majority of clubs have no trust in the CB as they have been promised COE for a long time now and not one sod of soil has moved. I am hopeful that the new CB led by Paddy Wallace and Paula Finan can come up with some ideas to fix the relationships that have been lost over the last 5 years.

Best of luck to them!"
Majority of clubs don't trust the county board and yet vast majority of positions at convention last week were either returned as per incumbent retaining their position or one candidate standing. There was one vote at convention according to reports. I'm not a club delegate so wasn't in attendance.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2498 - 16/12/2025 08:43:02    2648492

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