New York GAA Launches Stadium Plan

By Ronan Creaney

NEW York Gaels young and old gathered on Monday night for an historic reception hosted at the Irish Consulate by Consul General Eugene Hutchinson. At the reception honoring the New York GAA, association stalwart Monty Moloney ushered in a new era for Ireland’s native games. 

Speaking before a packed room, Moloney outlined the impressive and ambitious plans for the Randall’s Island Gaelic Sports complex, describing it as a “Mecca of sports in the greatest metropolis in the world.”

If everything falls to plan, the New York GAA will finally have a place that they call home, a place that they own and can operate 100%. The facility will include a clubhouse with banquet room, a high end restaurant, a cafe, a sports shop and an Irish Cultural Center with a proposed museum and library. 

Furthermore, and probably most important of all, there will be the only regulation U.S. Gaelic sports field large enough to attract top international talent. The aim is to make New York the foreign capital for Gaelic sports. The big league stadium (complete with fitness center) will initially seat 5,000 and eventually expand to 10,000. 

The complex is expected to cost $40 million, and Moloney and his team of trusted advisors have already set the fundraising wheels in motion. The Gaelic Sports Corporation has been set up to oversee the development, with Maloney in place as CEO and president. 

In addition, the New York GAA Board has spared no expense in hiring a team of consultants, architects and lawyers to best advise them on the project. 

As New York GAA President Liam Berming-ham says, “to be taken seriously we had to act seriously.” 

That New York City officials have green lighted the project, is a testament to the thoroughness of Moloney and Bermingham. New York Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Rich Davis, chairman of the Randall’s Island Foundationm were on hand on Monday to rubber stamp the scheme and add Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s word of encouragement. 

After the speeches there was a slide show, highlighting the various buildings and detailing the features of the complex. Throughout the room there was a general optimism and consensus that the GAA was onto something and that the proposed 2005 opening couldn’t come quick enough. 

Changing demographics, population shifts, a downturn in immigration and declining crowds have brought the New York GAA to this crossroads. Gaelic Park, which has been home to New York’s hurlers and footballers since 1928 and which was recently referred to in the New York Press newspaper, “as the crown jewel of Irish sports in the Bronx,” has served the Irish well. However, it is too restrictive to development and its time has come. 

With New York’s own GAA grounds, rumors of future Railway Cup games in North America and strong showings by both the New York hurling and football teams in their respective championships, the future of Gaelic games in New York is safe for the foreseeable future. 

For those willing to get involved in the Randall’s Island development, contact the Randall’s Island Gaelic Sports Complex, Inc at 1760 Second Avenue, New York, New York 10128; phone 212-876-0511; e-mail info@rigsc.com.