Avenue United closing in on Roslevan deal

WHILE pen has yet to be put to paper to formalise a contract, it has emerged this week that Clare junior soccer club Avenue United FC are the front runners to buy the former Roslevan GAA grounds.
It appears the Ennis-based soccer club may edge out Clare GAA for the property after county board officials conceded this week that they may have missed out on doing a deal for Roslevan.
Chairman Michael O’Neill confirmed the GAA had “a big interest” in the property but it is their understanding that Roslevan had been sold but, he said, “We have nothing to prove this”.
Avenue United’s chairman, Gearóid Mannion, confirmed to The Clare Champion the club are interested in the property and have been for some time.
“Yes, we have placed an offer on the facility,” he added.
However, he cautioned, “As everybody who has ever bought a property knows, it is not owned until contracts are signed and we have not signed a contract”.
Local auctioneer Philip O’Reilly, who has sale of the property, disclosed he has been in negotiations with a number of sporting and statutory bodies in relation to the property and negotiations are ongoing.
At the height of the building boom a few years ago, the 5.25 acre property was sold by the St Joseph’s GAA Club to a local business consortium, Crystal Partners, to facilitate a move to their state-of-the-art facilities at Gurteen.
It is understood the sale price at the time was close to €2m. The property could now be snapped up for little more than one-eighth of that and it is now part of the NAMA portfolio.
O’Callaghan’s Mills delegate, Noel O’Driscoll, who resides in Ballyalla, told this week’s GAA meeting that it was his understanding that a sporting body other than the GAA has purchased this property. “It’s a pity as it would have been excellent for the GAA. This meeting should be advised as to whether or not the board has an interest in the property.”
County GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald asserted the board “did do everything in their power” to acquire Roslevan and “were very disappointed” that it hadn’t happened.
“The reality is, and nobody would want to be under any illusions, that Clare GAA cannot buy a match without authority from a higher body. It’s as simple and as clear as that,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Currently, Avenue United are renting the use of Lees Road where they play their home games.