Richmond to move?

[JoeyFantastic]

Richmond Rugby Club strikes a deal with developer



Published Date: 02 October 2008
RICHMOND Rugby Club is canvassing councillors to have its existing
Rhebogue property rezoned for residential development after striking
a deal with developers McCarthy and Woulfe to provide new pitches
and a clubhouse nearby at Angler's Walk.
The Limerick Leader has learned that the club – which is seeking
planning permission to build 76 houses and apartments on their
current site – has asked the Council's largest political grouping – Fine
Gael – to support the rezoning from open space to residential.

It is understood that McCarthy and Woulfe have agreed to build
"state-of-the-art" pitches, training facilities and a clubhouse for
Richmond at Angler's Walk in return for Richmond's current lands.

Residents in Drominbeg have objected to the proposed housing
development on parking and traffic grounds.

[Drahcir]

Sounds good for us I suppose but where is Angler's walk?

[Canterbury]

Would be great for us, finally a bit of luck after our clubhouse was burnded down. Labour Party are opposed to it though, they are looking for a few votes, you would never think that there is a general eletion next year...

[Dumptruck]

Weird. Anglers Walk is a housing estate in Rhebogue. St Pats GAA is behind it.

[JoeyFantastic]

Weird. Anglers Walk is a housing estate in
Rhebogue. St Pats GAA is behind it.

In English? Just further down towards UL?

[Canterbury]

Weird. Anglers Walk is a housing estate in

Rhebogue. St Pats GAA is behind it.

In English? Just further down towards UL?

Would you support the move?

[JoeyFantastic]

Weird. Anglers Walk is
a housing estate in
Rhebogue. St Pats GAA is behind it.

In English? Just further down towards UL?

Would you
support the move?

I'd need to see more about what they are getting for what they are
giving but the trend will always be to move away from city centre
clubs and with St. Mary's just across the canal I don't really see a
downside to this provided the proposed development is in keeping
with the area and the available infrastructure.

[Canterbury]

Weird. Anglers Walk is

a housing estate in

Rhebogue. St Pats GAA is behind it.

In English? Just further down towards UL?

Would you

support the move?

I'd need to see more about what they are getting for what they are

giving but the trend will always be to move away from city centre

clubs and with St. Mary's just across the canal I don't really see a

downside to this provided the proposed development is in keeping

with the area and the available infrastructure.

They will still be in Rhebogue.... If we can get Locky off our backs we should be fine...

[treatycity1]

Joey, they are getting a good deal, the proposed development is on land on the right hand side a the bottom of Anglers Walk and is zoned green space, across the road from St Pats. M&W have been talking with the club for a number of years now and Richmond have discussed the deal with their neighbours in Anglers walk and Dromore. They have acceded to the wishes of the residents there and given what has been asked of them. I feel the development will have either a negligble or no effect on Drominbeg. Parking will be inside the ground. It is the usual coterie of nimby's spurred on by people with a vested interest in securing a political base that are objecting to it. This is a chance to provide a fantastic asset for Rhebogue and to bring Richmond right into the heart of its future and present catchment area. It will be safe to get to for young lads and lasses unlike the canal bank path to its present ground. I bet the nimbys in Drominbeg don't give a toss about the people of Park when they use the road as a rat run to corbally and the other side of town.

[Canterbury]

Joey, they are getting a good deal, the proposed development is on land on the right hand side a the bottom of Anglers Walk and is zoned green space, across the road from St Pats. M&W have been talking with the club for a number of years now and Richmond have discussed the deal with their neighbours in Anglers walk and Dromore. They have acceded to the wishes of the residents there and given what has been asked of them. I feel the development will have either a negligble or no effect on Drominbeg. Parking will be inside the ground. It is the usual coterie of nimby's spurred on by people with a vested interest in securing a political base that are objecting to it. This is a chance to provide a fantastic asset for Rhebogue and to bring Richmond right into the heart of its future and present catchment area. It will be safe to get to for young lads and lasses unlike the canal bank path to its present ground. I bet the nimbys in Drominbeg don't give a toss about the people of Park when they use the road as a rat run to corbally and the other side of town.

I couldn't agree more...

It'd be a great thing for Richmond to get a new facility up in Rhebogue. Unfortunately, there isone councillor who's opposed to the move and is holding the whole thing back.


Ironically, the councillor in question played rugby at a high level, his familly are involved in rugby around limerick and yet he is still actively against a junior club, that has struggled for most of the last decade to provide a rugby facility to a traditional hotbed of Limerick rugby talent, gaining access to a top facility for it and its community. Just goes to show that when politics is involved, the self interest ofone individual (in trying to secure a few votes) will always come before the community

[Corker]

It'd be a great thing for Richmond to get a new facility up in Rhebogue. Unfortunately, there isone councillor who's opposed to the move and is holding the whole thing back.


Ironically, the councillor in question played rugby at a high level, his familly are involved in rugby around limerick and yet he is still actively against a junior club, that has struggled for most of the last decade to provide a rugby facility to a traditional hotbed of Limerick rugby talent, gaining access to a top facility for it and its community. Just goes to show that when politics is involved, the self interest ofone individual (in trying to secure a few votes) will always come before the community

If it is who I am thinking of, and who is mentioned in an earlier post, he is involved heavily with another nearby junior club, and could therefore be seen as not looking after his own if he supported the Richmond deal.

Yup, its him, I hadn't noticed that.


Not sure which rugby club he is involved in but either way, his work as a councillor should not be impacted by his personnel committments. His job is to represent the people of Limerick and do whats best for them. It is not his job to restrict community developement because it contravenes his or his clubs interests.


I'm sure Richmond RFC are not looking for his active support for the move(there are other councillors I believe that are actively pushing for this)but would prefer if he dropped is active opposition ot it!

[Corker]

True enough Biggles. He is very active in the underage section of Saints.

Unfortunately Corker, it is true.


It would be a pity and an injustice if he felt his involvement in St. Mary's required him to restrict the developement of a local junior club.


Not sure if you've been down in Richmond lately but it isn't easy for the guy's down there to keep rugby alive in the area. Vandalism continues to be a big issue and this is a chance for them to end this with a move into a more populated area.


Limerick is synonymous withsport and particularly rugby all over the world.Richmondhave produced alot of playersover the past yearswhich were (and are) used by senior clubs, munster and Ireland. The continued promotion of rugby at grass roots level from the cities leaders is vital to protectour cities "intellectual property" by continuing to produce great rugby players. Its sad that the narrow views of one man can slow this down and potentially stop it.


One last point (apologies for the rant). How much money is brought into the local economy through rugby, be it sports stores selling jerseys, the whole economy benefiting from munster games or pubs and restaurants benefitting from club matches. I would imagine its a pretty penny. In order for this to continue, rugby in the province and particularly Limerick needs to be kept strong at all levels, be it the feeder clubs like Richmond (currently the only J1 team in Limerick city) or Marys, to the Shannons and Garryowens of this world. Maybe this should be pointed out to locky and those that have voted for him. I'm sure his limited view on this one matter would have a negative impact on future voting

[LLCOOLJ14]

Didnt he manage to get Marys a great new set-up recently?

[Corker]

He was one of the contributors LLCJ. The members fund raised and built that themselves. i think there was some lotto funding, but most of it was done off their own backs, fair play to them.

Agreed, fairplay to Mary's and their recent developements. Hopefully things will change for them on the playing front and they'll strenghten their player base.


But, whatever the members did you can bet your life that there were zoning issues that needed to be addressed in terms of the road, apartments etc and that locky would have been involved.

[Canterbury]

Didnt he manage to get Marys a great new set-up recently?

A lot of the funding was given by the developers whom build four and five story apartments around the pitch and on the canal at St Marys. Now he is objecting to the same principle of development just down the canal because its not his own club.

St Marys and Richmond have a fanstatic relationship and as the only junior clubs in Limerick City it would be great to see them prosper and develop.

[land of the free]

Well well . . . let's see, would anyone fancy a roundabout cutting into your driveway??or the road outside your front door turned into a through road for approx 100 residential units??the possibility that 10% of the units will be handed over to the limerick city council to help in their "regeneration of the city" ??orthe increased risk of flooding, so that your home insurance increases??


Of course no one in Dromroe or Anglers walk is complaining, the new through roadwill NOT be through their estates, it'll be through Drominbeg . . . and to the Richmond supportors, I spent my childhood on the sidelines watching my dad, my uncles, my brother play in the Richmond green. . . i would love to seeRichmond get a much deserved new ground to help the young people in the area learn a greatsport and the pride that goes along with such a great game, community support is what we'relacking in todays world.


I am not opposing Richmond, I am opposing M&W who are using Richmondtopush their own agenda. And if Cllr O'Loughlin can help then so be it, but he wont be getting my vote in the long run, neither will Mr O'Hanlon . . .who has people slipping leaflets in our letterboxes at 11 at night to avoid having to face his constituents!!!

[Corker]

And if Cllr O'Loughlin can help then so be it, but he wont be getting my vote in the long run,

Who's he ? Do you mean Cllr. McLoughlin ? If you're going to complain about him then at least get his name right.

[land of the free]

Wow . . . life is cruel when even typos are unforgiveable.


Please note i did not complain about Cllr McLoughlin, i merely said if he can assist in the cause . . great . . but after the fact he will not get my vote, that's all.


I was however, complaining about Mr O'Hanlon . . which you missed but i am willing to let that pass.

[JoeyFantastic]

Wow . . . life is cruel when even typos are unforgiveable.


Please note i did not complain about Cllr McLoughlin, i merely said if he can assist in the cause . . great . . but after the fact he will not get my vote, that's all.


I was however, complaining about Mr O'Hanlon . . which you missed but i am willing to let that pass.

What would be acceptable to you?

[land of the free]

Acceptable in what sense?

[JoeyFantastic]

Acceptable in what sense?

Were Richmond to move, what would you accept on the site? Do you think it would be good for Richmond to take the offer?

[land of the free]

The view that is circulating is that those who oppose it are opposing Richmond . . . far from it, when i 1st moved into the area, i was excited at the prospect of being over the wall from richmond, and going to watch the matches on sundays.


While i think it'sa fantastic opportunity for Richmond, i think it's tinged with a taste of "selling out", yes it may be for the greater good (who love the game), but they're are approx 200 homes in Drominbeg, 200 families that will be directly impacted by this.


On the current Richmond site, i would accept the new Richmond facility!! Orthe Canal rejuvenation plan foralong thatsection to include a mini park, or other such community orientated facilties.


What do you think?

I'd have to disagree with you Land of the free.


M&W may be pushing their agenda, but this is something, I would imagine, that Richmond very much need following the destruction of their club house by vandals. Its all well and good saying that you would accept development on Richmonds site, but who would pay for that? Rugby clubs, particularly junior clubs are not in a position to fund such development.


I think your point around 10% of the development going over to regeneration is a little uninformed. Whilst this may be an option it is not compulsory. Cash or alternative land banks may be offered. Either way, the scheme you bought into in Drominbeg would have had a similar criteria in terms of social housing.


As it is, no regeneration of the canal area in terms of parks etc can go ahead. The canal bank and the track both attract a bad element and anything that would go in would be destroyed. Look at the trees they tried to plant - all up rooted. Houses in this area, public lighting etc would, I imagine stop these guys using this area as there would be people there all of time and it would be well lit.


I use the area to walk my dog and hope that Richmond are successful in their plans. 100 houses in the area isn't going to have that dramatic an affect when you look at the level of houses already developed

[treatycity1]

Amazing, before the homes there was Richmond, and a lot of people in Anglers walk and Rhebogue who never objected to the 200 homes in Drominbeg, to play the nimby now is not only hypocritical it is downright absurd. The traffic brought in by these homes is not minimal and has caused major disruption to all the residents.
Richmond have every right to dispose of their lands as they see fit and in order to benefit the club and the surrounding areas I believe the developments must go ahead.

[Canterbury]

Amazing, before the homes there was Richmond, and a lot of people in Anglers walk and Rhebogue who never objected to the 200 homes in Drominbeg, to play the nimby now is not only hypocritical it is downright absurd. The traffic brought in by these homes is not minimal and has caused major disruption to all the residents.
Richmond have every right to dispose of their lands as they see fit and in order to benefit the club and the surrounding areas I believe the developments must go ahead.

Here here, therw are residents living in Rhebogue for 20 years and more who support Richmondand enjoyed a peaceful countryside until estates like Drominbeg were developed. There was never any objections but its really rich when a few blow-ins come in and are living here a couple of years and start objecting to the development of a privately owned ground owned by Richmond.

[land of the free]

Canterbury . . . fyi, i am not a blow in, my family has lived in the Garryowen/Rhebogue area for generations, my great-uncle lived in one of the little cottages in rhebogue from birth todeath 25yrs ago. My father and his family have played with Richmond for generations and continue to do so.


I support Richmond, I do not support McCarthy & Woulfe bluffing their way into building a development, and using Richmond as cover, at the expense of local citizens.


If residents had an issue with Dromroe or Drominbeg when they were being built or in planning stages, they should have objected. Just as they did when Clohessy wanted to build a pub at the entrance to Drominbeg in '04/'05.