The future of one of Tralee's most famous GAA Clubs - the John Mitchel's Hurling and Football Club - has still to be decided, after a recent Extraordinary General Meeting failed to decide whether the existing premises in Boherbee should be sold and the Club move to another location out of town.
The members of the Club decided last year to form a Development Committee to investigate the feasibility of moving the headquarters to a new location within the John Mitchel's catchment area. This Committee was formed as a result of the publication of the Brady Shipman Report for the John Joe Sheehy Road, which visualises the area as residential or commercial. A Club statement at the time explained that, with the recent economic growth in the property market, it was decided to place the property on the market in order to get a realistic valuation. This would then allow the purchase and development of suitable playing pitches and facilities elsewhere. The existing property, which is located close to the county GAA grounds at Austin Stack Park, comprises a 4.5 acre site with a full-size playing pitch, a bar and dressing rooms. The value is thought to be in the region of IR£4 million.
There was strong speculation that a move to the new Boyle Brothers Development at Manor (where over 13 acres of land would be available as opposed to the present 4.5) would be the most likely recommendation of the Development Committee. However, other options are also in the running. Eighteen acres of land owned by the Sugrue family on the Castlemaine Road, a portion of Lamb's land nearer the town as well as a 12 acre site at Cloghers (across the river from the Fels Point development) are all being considered.
Club Chairman, Denis Boyle, says that no final decision would be made by the members until the reconvened EGM which will be held in early February.
The John Mitchel's Club was formed in the late 1920's and enjoyed considerable success throughout Kerry's sporting history, drawing players from areas such as Kevin Barry's Villas, Ballymullen, Marian Park, Ballyseedy and Boherbee itself. It has a proud tradition over the years but has recently been finding that, with the old Mitchel's Road and Marian Park estates producing fewer young people, it's fortunes have been declining. Winners of five County Championships in a row between 1959 and 1963, the Club is now languishing in Division III of the County League and there appears to be little prospect of a return to it's former glory.
While it is more than likely that the Club will be moving from it's current location, the 237 members entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting will have to decide on the best alternative location in order to secure the Club's future....
