Athletic Grounds Phase 4 work begins

[corn02]

Given that you are into facts, allow me to continue in the same vein - what you have said is factually incorrect. There are many more facts pertaining to this.

The fact is that the County Board were victims of circumstance in this, in that the funding dried up because of a well publicised legal investigation that took place. This was a widespread investigation into public funding for sports in Northern Ireland, as opposed to anything specific to Armagh.

Whilst this investigation was on going, all funding for projects like the Athletic Grounds stopped / were suspended, and given that the Athletic Grounds had already started, development was left in limbo for a number of years.

It is only in the last two - three years or so that this investigation was completed and funding released, and as a consequence we have had further development, which will hopefully take us up to completion.

Throughout this process the County Board took the prudent step of only going ahead with development once the funding was guaranteed to be in place. This made perfect sense, and was borne out of the bitter experience of the previous redevelopment of the Athletic Grounds (1982-84) which left the County with the millstone of huge debt around its neck, and of course when that happens, it is the Clubs that have to pay out.

The delay in the Athletic Grounds redevelopment has been frustrating, but it is totally understandable, and everyone of us should be thankful that it was the path chosen, as otherwise it would have been our Clubs having to pay for it.

Spot. On.

Some people need to gather a hold of themselves here.

Thanks for the photos Rufus.

[bennydorano]

I dont know why anyone would listen to Sliothar anyway, look across a few different threads and he's gurning about something different on each one, dry them ffs

[MONAVIS]

[QUOTE=gar;7499]You need to know the facts wolfie before you start making those kind of statements .. Thanks rufus, the photographs are great .
I was in the other day myself and had a look round it will be a great stadium

They are resurfacing the pitch as well.[/QUOTE]

That was really needed IMO, it was a very poor surface for a pitch that wanted to be county ground standard. Hopefully it can be in good shape by the time the development is finished.

[sliothar]

Just asking the questions - bennydorano - we don't all live in GAA fantasy world where we believe everything blindly and keep contributing to the bottomless pit- some of us have real world concerns and measure them against how the GAA operates and a lot of the time they don't match up despite the good efforts of many volunteers.

When they don't match up we are entitled to Gurn as you put it - you will learn through time it is good to question, even if it is just to keep the whole project on track and at least to make others think about it.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Just asking the questions

Sorry, but having looked through your previous posts on this subject, i cannot see any questions raised.

There are only one set of facts pertaining to this - it is taking far too long!!!!!

Taking far too long these are the simple facts of the case.
Agree with Wolfie it is a joke, especially with any other County you talk to regarding their own Co ground development and also plans for Centres of Excellence, we are a laughing stock.

There are though statements, which are strident in tone. Some of these are, to say the least, ill informed.

[bennydorano]

Just asking the questions - bennydorano - we don't all live in GAA fantasy world where we believe everything blindly and keep contributing to the bottomless pit- some of us have real world concerns and measure them against how the GAA operates and a lot of the time they don't match up despite the good efforts of many volunteers.

When they don't match up we are entitled to Gurn as you put it - you will learn through time it is good to question, even if it is just to keep the whole project on track and at least to make others think about it.

Why bother contributing at all if all you do is yap?? Bit of balance lad at least An injection of Bobby Mcferran required.

[Patrick-Armagh]

The computer generated image and the photos look great and it's very exciting to see this work progressing, no matter what the reasons. It will be great to see Championship football back in Armagh city, instead of having to head down to Clones. We've been one of the leading teams in the country over the past decade and deserve to have a ground like this.

[sliothar]

In reply to Bennydorano if you look across the threads I have made many positive supporting and encouraging comments in relation to work being done in our association, in support of our teams during competition and also regarding various club initiatives and novel competitions etc.

So I don't always yap as you put it your post is ill informed and without factual base. Who is Bobby McFerran?

As for Rufus you are also only looking at only my posts on this topic, we have used the outside funding issue as an excuse for too long on this, while I am delighted to see progress it is still too slow and unfortunately in the circles that count at Ulster level.

We are a laughing stock in relation to where we are re. facilities and our progress/fwd planning, we have run aground. You seem to be more ill informed than I am on this one Rufus and need to get up to speed with current thinking in the places that really matter, not just the discussion forum in the Harps Social club.

[Rufus T Firefly]

As for Rufus you are also only looking at only my posts on this topic,

Can you point me to other threads where you have questioned the slow progress of development at the Athletic Grounds? If you cannot, then your point is irrelevant.

while I am delighted to see progress it is still too slow and unfortunately in the circles that count at Ulster level.

Can you clarify what that means....'in the circles that count at Ulster level'?

We are a laughing stock in relation to where we are re. facilities and our progress/fwd planning, we have run aground. You seem to be more ill informed than I am on this one Rufus and need to get up to speed with current thinking in the places that really matter, not just the discussion forum in the Harps Social club.

What is the 'current thinking in the places that matter' and where are 'the places that matter'? You've made reference to the fact that we are a 'laughing stock' . Who's laughing at us - you're not referring are you to the intelligentsia on GAABoard? That's the only place where I would see disparaging comments. God help us if this is the place you refer to as 'the places that matter'!!

I do not see a Club named in your profile and therein lies the key to our seperate viewpoints. I have already stated how this issue can / has affected Clubs in the past - believe me, such matters are very much on the agenda at the discussion forums in the Harps Social Club - committee meetings to you an I.

Still - if you don't have a Club, then such issues will not bother you in the slightest and you can go on taking the easy option of sniping from the sidelines! What is it they say about ignorance???

[Rma13]

Who is Bobby McFerran?

Bobby McFerran sang "Don't worry, be happy"