Monday, February 13, 2012

Warnings ‘The Field’ could be recreated over GAA land row

The Catholic Church has been warned it can expect scenes reminiscent of John B Keane’s The Field if it sells a village property in Kerry to anyone other than the local GAA club. 

There has been a furious reaction in Kilgarvan to a decision to offer the old presbytery and 12 acres of land for sale on the open market, despite an offer of €205,000 from the local club.

At a public meeting to discuss the stand-off, it was proposed that the Bishop of Kerry be told that unless the GAA club was allowed buy the land, the community was not happy for it to be sold to anyone else.

However, a statement by the diocese insisted it was both a moral and legal requirement to secure the best possible price for the property that the market could offer.

There was a dramatic development in the row yesterday when GAA club chairman Tom Randles warned that the matter could develop into a row similar to that witnessed in The Field.

Mr Randles told Radio Kerry: "Do you remember the famous play The Field? That’s what it’s coming to here. I’ll say no more."

In the movie adaptation of the John B Keane play, a visiting American businessman was slain by a local father and son because he planned to purchase a parcel of land they believed they had a right to acquire.

The run-down presbytery and surrounding land in Kilgarvan is owned by St Brendan’s Trust, a limited company which holds title to Catholic Church property in all 53 parishes of the diocese.

The property is adjacent to Kilgarvan GAA grounds and officials have outlined plans to obtain the site for the development of a second playing pitch, tennis and basketball courts, and a community hall with a gym and meeting rooms.

It is understood the GAA made an offer of €205,000 for the land but it has been reported that a better offer has since been tabled.

The diocesan statement said the decision to sell the old Kilgarvan presbytery was made in 2011 in association with the then administrator of the parish and the pastoral council. The house is no longer fit for purpose for the needs of a modern parish ministry.

As St Brendan’s Trust is a registered charity and subject to the requirements of the Charities Act, the law states that except in the case of a sale to another charity all disposals must be at full market value.

"It is both a moral and legal requirement that the diocese gets the best possible price for the property that the market can offer," the statement says.

The diocese said while it acknowledges the merit and good intention of the GAA to purchase the property in the interests of the future sporting needs of the people of the community, the Church has an obligation to serve the best future needs of the faith community of the parish.

Kilgarvan is a small parish located between Killarney and Kenmare and is home to Independent South Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae.