O’Dwyers GAA Club
New development update
31st January 2025
As always we would still like to hear from you.
If you have any points, queries or topics which you would like raised with the Exec please email Secretary secretary.odwyers.dublin@gaa.ie in confidence and we will endeavor to respond to you as soon as possible. Alternatively reach out to a member of the Exec Committee and topics can be raised to the Exec meeting agenda for review.
New Development Progress Update
In our previous update regarding the development timelines we flagged a number of areas of risk to the opening of our new facility. Unfortunately these risks have materialised and mitigations were not successful to minimise the impact and are causing challenges to timelines of various phases of the opening
Timelines shared during last update
Phase 1 ( End of Jan ) - Moved to March (*)
- Ground works will be complete and access secure
- Pitches & playing facilities will be available for teams to train & play
- Dressing room & Referee rooms will be available
Phase 2 ( Mid Feb ) - Moved to March (*)
- Sports hall available ( this is delayed slightly due to the delay with heating connection and requirement for the wood to be in environment for circa 2 weeks prior to fitting
- Meeting rooms available ( & Partial opening of upstairs of club house )
- Training room & Physio facilities
Phase 3 ( End of Feb ) - Pending a number of external dependencies (*)
- Club social area - pending works and securing bar licence and building sign off architect & fire officer
- Club shop fitout complete and stock available
- Maintenance Shed & External storage
What has changed to impact this (*)
- Fingal main road and access road entrance not complete - A request for a high level meeting with Fingal to address this point and also safety concerns with main Drogheda Road
- After a number of escalations we have only now received the delayed approval of a Fingal grant ( Wheelchair access & lift ) this grant has been delayed since September. The awarding of the grant has unblocked this piece of work and installation and works can commence. This delay has a further potential to impact our building certification timelines and our timely application for bar licence.
- Further Fingal grant information ( Perimeter Fence & Security Access ) required including 3 additional tenders - We had been notified of a grant award in early Dec and a further requirement of additional quotes and paperwork to receive formal approval of grant - This rework is in progress and we hope timelines will not delay us further
- Sewage Solution is ongoing and decision has been made on a way forward
- The Builder communicated that the pitch needed some final works, before handover this was known but not to the extent of works or requirement of the criteria to facilitate ( 2 weeks of 10+ degrees soil temperature ) Currently this work is outside the expertise scope of the club, so we need to align to allow the developer to complete these works
- Storm Eowyn damage full evaluation of the damage on site is required, so far we are aware of damage to the Main pitch Ball stop net
Revised timelines
- Phase 1 : Pitch will be available pending handover works completion and also damage identification of the Pitch 2 Ball Stop net.
External ground commercial discussions to be closed this week on re-design and costs and works to commence.
- Phase 2 & Phase 3: Will be merged and target is end of March for completion, there are a number of dependencies for this timeline to be delivered
- Floor delivery & fitting sportshall
- Maintenance shed completion and utilities connected in particular for floodlighting Pitch 2
- Bar cold room, Bar fitout - providers & suppliers aligned with tight timelines
- Fire Cert and all final documentation for the building
- Bar licence application in line with monthly court dates
- The builder has advised that the full building and pitches will be handed over by the end of March.
- There is still a risk in relation to timelines for Bar to be finalised & licensed given the level of information required and fixed monthly court dates and also closure of external dependencies on some work elements.
Unfortunately the timelines on our last update were incorrect. As we approach the closure date a number of challenges have arisen as is the case with all large significant programmes of work. Unfortunately a number of the impacts which were out of our control and which we are at the mercy of completion with Fingal and third party delivery had dependencies on other works commencing.
We apologise for this miscommunication. The communication was based on the most accurate information that was available to us at the time.
For context we are building a state - of art sports facility, a fully functioning bar & club house which will cater for large concert events and working on trying to optimise costs and drive further revenue avenues.
We have also improved & expanded the scope of the development with recent enhancements and phase 2 elements in planning which will further enhance the development.
Our Club Exec and Club development committees ambition is to deliver a close to cost neutral development, with the best scope we can achieve to our community.
We are as frustrated as you in a delayed opening however we need to be prudent to ensure when we open that it is fit for purpose and the development delivers for our club
We will increase the comms over the next month as milestones are achieved and/or as often as reasonably possible so that everyone has full transparency on the development next steps.
We appreciate our club members' support and patience, the delays are not through a lack of effort or commitment. We are all working tirelessly to get us across the road
