Try a little Tender(ness)!

For once, at the moment within Meath GAA, breaking news off the field will quite possibly and rightly overshadow anything going on between the lines this week. The Ladies’ qualification for another All Ireland SFC Final obviously excepted. With signs that, at long last, things may be moving towards a physical manifestation of the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann getting under way.

If my understanding is correct, the contract is now ready to go out to tender. Essentially, going out to tender is the selection process to pick who will carry out the work. Presuming that can be expedited fairly quickly, one wonders might there be some sort of a start made before year end.

Obviously, from a personal perspective, greatest interest will centre on the disabled viewing facilities in the new stadium. I would be delighted and honoured if asked to make a contribution to same. As was the case when the current area was being constructed 20 years ago.

What’s more, any engagement received from Meath Co Committee would be an improvement on the stoney wall of silence received from GAA HQ in relation to the tawdry state of affairs currently therein. As many of you will know, in recent months, I’ve written two fairly extensive pieces in the Sunday Independent detailing my attempts to engage with Uachtarain CLG Jarlath Burns but you’d get more of a reply from the Cistercian Monks.

However, since then, my own research has revealed that there are, in fact, two sections of the Cusack Stand – numbers 408 and 409 – where the row of seats have been removed. Thus leaving patrons requiring the facilities with an unobstructed view. Like the carpark spaces, mind you, they seem to be more closely guarded secrets than those of Fatima. Not to mention the fact that the obvious question then becomes, if they can do what needs doing what two sections of the Cusack – which are actually adjacent to each other – why can, at the very least, the same not be done with rest of the aforementioned area? No breath will be held while waiting on a response to such an idea.