Connacht Rugby could be on the way to the home of Mayo GAA
The GAA's Central Council will have to give a green light to the move, which could see MacHale Park Castlebar stage a Connacht rugby game next year.
Connacht rugby could be coming to MacHale Park, Castlebar - next year.
Mayo clubs have given their County Board the green light to put the move to the GAA’s Central Council, who would have to approve it first.
The match in question is Connacht’s meeting with Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on March 29, next year with Connacht chiefs making a recent approach to Mayo GAA.
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Mayo’s Division 1 National Football League group campaign would be completed by that stage and with their Connacht opener against Sligo set for a mid April date, the Castlebar venue would be free.
Mayo chiefs have spent heavily on the pitch in recent years, making it the same dimensions as Croke Park and upgrading it in a €300,000 refurbishment.
MacHale Park’s capacity was once over 30,000 but has been reduced to in the region of 25,000.
Galway’s Pearse Stadium, Salthill has a capacity of 26,000, but with Connacht based at the Sportsground in Galway, a switch to Castlebar may be viewed as a tool to promote the game outside the City.
The extra income would be welcome for Mayo GAA, who are one of the biggest spenders on their inter-county sides, with the costs involved in players travel to training from Dublin and other places a major factor.
The redevelopment of MacHale Park also left a considerable debt to be paid off.
Back in 2021 the €7.9 million debt on the stadium was restructured with repayments in the region of €20,000 per month.
Croke Park was opened to rugby and soccer back in 2005 when Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped and Leinster have played there a number of times in recent years.
But other grounds remained closed until the 2019 GAA Congress when counties gave Central Council the power to agree to the use of Association venues for other sports.
The move came after the GAA originally refused to allow Pairc Ui Chaoimh to be used for a testimonial game for the family of the late Liam Miller, before performing a u-turn.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh has also been used by Munster rugby.
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