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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To jamsie:  "Don't think it has anything to do with the 2 clubs close by. Lomans have fantastic facilities of their own. And Shamrocks just bought adjacent land to quadruple the size of Springfield. So they are two clubs who would have little use for a COE. Which I guess makes it even more strange to put it right between them."
I did say I'm not linking a COE to either club, but definitely to a lot of people it seems very tedious where it's located. To buy land for €1m and then need another €10m to redevelop seems very steep and ambitious. The chairman mentioned the adjacent clubs and how this would be a sporting hub in that area. Ok, but a lot of people live absolutely nowhere near there and feel excluded from the plans it would seem. You'd imagine a COE should also cater for clubs who's pitches aren't playable at certain times of the year. So again, to the clubs in the very south are they really going to benefit. A lot of very nice and humble people were behind this project but I feel it leaves a lot to be desired.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 68 - 24/04/2025 16:20:34    2604085

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€10m to develop a COE seems steep to you? How much should we spend? Have you any idea of inflationary costs re projects like this? Newbridge stand which is a top job cost €26m. The rest of the ground wasn't touched, if we don't show ambition and develop 4-5 pitches then more criticism will follow. The whingers on this forum are impossible to please, that's their nature, no matter what's done or planned it's wrong or a waste. Buy a ticket, in fact sell a few tickets, show your support for the county if it's genuine, maybe do something

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2130 - 25/04/2025 09:22:17    2604162

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "€10m to develop a COE seems steep to you? How much should we spend? Have you any idea of inflationary costs re projects like this? Newbridge stand which is a top job cost €26m. The rest of the ground wasn't touched, if we don't show ambition and develop 4-5 pitches then more criticism will follow. The whingers on this forum are impossible to please, that's their nature, no matter what's done or planned it's wrong or a waste. Buy a ticket, in fact sell a few tickets, show your support for the county if it's genuine, maybe do something"
I've bought two tickets as a matter of fact but still feel reality is very detached from where the whole project is at. Do you have any criticism whatsoever or do you think everything is just perfect that is been done in the county? People are entitled to criticise if they feel strongly on something; you on the other hand seem to think if everyone just buys a ticket everything will work out and all is rosey. Yes I do think €10m is steep considering they cannot raise the initial €1m to buy the land. Land could have been bought in parts of the county that would have worked just fine for 250-400k. It's easy to vent criticism on this forum as if you speak up at a meeting you'll be shot down.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 68 - 25/04/2025 12:25:58    2604206

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "€10m to develop a COE seems steep to you? How much should we spend? Have you any idea of inflationary costs re projects like this? Newbridge stand which is a top job cost €26m. The rest of the ground wasn't touched, if we don't show ambition and develop 4-5 pitches then more criticism will follow. The whingers on this forum are impossible to please, that's their nature, no matter what's done or planned it's wrong or a waste. Buy a ticket, in fact sell a few tickets, show your support for the county if it's genuine, maybe do something"
Let's not pretend the Newbridge stand cost €26m. Whatever it was that Kildare spent, they demolished the existing stand and dressing room block and built a new entrance plaza, a new 3,000 seat stand that extends out to the pitch and includes dressing rooms, official changing rooms, a Club Kildare lounge, multi purpose rooms and shop space. They made the pitch bigger (the same length as Croke Park), installed a new drainage system and state of the art floodlighting. The full capacity of the grounds is 15,000 which suggests they also done considerable work on improving the terraces.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 151 - 25/04/2025 15:25:45    2604242

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Genuine question, have ticket sales for the draw stepped up at all? 1 month left. Have they gotten to even 5k yet?

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 25/04/2025 16:02:15    2604250

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Replying To Bluelake:  "Genuine question, have ticket sales for the draw stepped up at all? 1 month left. Have they gotten to even 5k yet?"
I bought a ticket end of November and ticket order was just at 530…..so that's €5300…..anyone bought one recently and give an idea where it's at?

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 254 - 25/04/2025 18:12:12    2604281

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Replying To ExiledCuCu:  "I bought a ticket end of November and ticket order was just at 530…..so that's €5300…..anyone bought one recently and give an idea where it's at?"
I meant 5k tickets sold. It was 2300 at the end of March

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 25/04/2025 19:19:30    2604287

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I purchased one there the other day, it's nearly up on 8,450 now.

RadioactiveTan (UK) - Posts: 30 - 26/04/2025 10:52:55    2604340

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Let's not pretend the Newbridge stand cost €26m. Whatever it was that Kildare spent, they demolished the existing stand and dressing room block and built a new entrance plaza, a new 3,000 seat stand that extends out to the pitch and includes dressing rooms, official changing rooms, a Club Kildare lounge, multi purpose rooms and shop space. They made the pitch bigger (the same length as Croke Park), installed a new drainage system and state of the art floodlighting. The full capacity of the grounds is 15,000 which suggests they also done considerable work on improving the terraces."
St. Conleth's project was delivered in on time without any overruns and the final cost was €19 million.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3026 - 26/04/2025 13:55:43    2604359

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Well done to the u20s and minors on their wins this week. Quick turnaround for the dual minor players today but great result beating Offaly 4-15 to 2-17, Our county secretary Brendan Shaw stepped down this week. A big thanks to Brendan for his contribution to Westmeath GAA.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 294 - 26/04/2025 14:31:44    2604364

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Replying To RadioactiveTan:  "I purchased one there the other day, it's nearly up on 8,450 now."
it is steadily improving but not at the rate i think the county board were expecting, What happens if they dont make the target ? they want 15k tickets sold by May 30th way off it at this rate, do they pill pin if fundraiser doesn't work? Or maybe they just create a new fundraiser and keep going with this plan at a slower rate.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 26/04/2025 15:40:56    2604373

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Replying To lilywhite1:  "St. Conleth's project was delivered in on time without any overruns and the final cost was €19 million."
Thanks for clarifying some misinformation. Out of interest, do the people from the outer parts of Kildare be cribbing and crying about having a Centre of Excellence strategically located in the heart of the county?

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 151 - 26/04/2025 15:58:50    2604376

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Thanks for clarifying some misinformation. Out of interest, do the people from the outer parts of Kildare be cribbing and crying about having a Centre of Excellence strategically located in the heart of the county?"
The County Board unofficial spokesperson speaks again.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 68 - 26/04/2025 16:21:39    2604382

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