​Public Meeting Learns Of Duggan Park Potential

Joe Kelly Senior a passionate GAA Tribesman and local supporter all his life ran the GAA Supporters Shop in the Pre All Ireland build up in Greenes’ old store Society St. – raising significant sums for the County Football Board.
 
Joe set about highlighting the true potential of the Duggan Park in a Winter Campaign culminating in an open public meeting in Gullane’s Hotel in early January  attended by over 60 people, TDs, Senators and Councillors.
 
Chaired by Padraig Lyons and briefed on the Heritage of the ground by Cllr. Declan Kelly ( cousin of Joe),  the meeting heard a summary outline of the type of development that the ground could accommodate if the stakeholders and key interests agreed on such a Masterplan.
 
Joe’s Highlighting campaign drew heavily for support from a lot players and officials of GAA past and present and indeed a great many ex pats who were involved in playing or coaching down through the years. Retired businessman Billy O Carroll and even Colm Mc Loughlin Chair of the Duty Free in Dubai , among others wrote in support of Joe’s future vision for the Duggan Park.
 
Following a whirlwind of media interviews and a statement from the Duggan Park Committee confirming that there” is a multiple staged plan in place for the development with full planning permission and €500,000 has been spent thus far on the early phases, done to an excellent standard by local contractors with the support of the previous town council for grants and sports capital grants. The work carried out is future proofing Duggan Park and is done on a budget.”.  The County Board had some communications with Joe on foot of the meeting and outlined their views on how best they would proceed with the advancing of the plans over time for the Duggan.
 
Joe after some 50 years of campaigning decided that this project was his very last one as he is now fully confident that the Duggan Park will be developed over the next 3 years with the best  County board he has  have ever seen . “I will now be supporting their efforts with fundraising and encourage everyone who engaged wit me to do the same “ , stated Joe.