Ballyboden St Enda’s to purchase 12-acre prime site on Firhouse Road

By Mary Dennehy

A LOCAL GAA club is set to purchase the 12 acres of land adjacent to the Carmelite monastery on the Firhouse Road, The Echo can reveal.

At its AGM on Monday, members of Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA Club approved the purchase of the land, which, subject to planning permission, will be used for the development of two senior pitches.

The deal, which is expected to close in the next month, does not include the Carmelite monastery or its surrounding buildings, with The Echo understanding that another party is interested in acquiring this part of the property.

Home to the sisters since 1827, the Carmelite monastery, which has played an integral role in community development in the areas of Firhouse and Knocklyon, is being vacated by the order due to challenging and changing times.

Speaking with The Echo about the sale of land to Ballyboden St Enda’s, which was All-Ireland Club Final champions in 2016, local Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart said: “I think it’s a very positive move for the club and also means that the land will be used by the community.

“It’s like a legacy for the Carmelites, and the use of the land by the local community is very much in the spirit of the sisters’ thinking.

“It’s a development that will also preserve the Dodder Linear Park.”

The Echo understands that members of Ballyboden St Enda’s see the purchase of the land, which lies less than a mile up the road from its club house and grounds on the Firhouse Road, as an exciting move.

A club source told The Echo: “It’s a great move for the club, which is expanding all the time.

“There are currently 130 teams across all ages, and the purchase of these lands is a reflection of the growth of the club and its surrounding community.

“It’s early days and no planning application has been lodged, but the hope is to develop two senior pitches on the land, which will be very beneficial to the club and its players.

“The Carmelite sisters have also been very supportive in this and are very happy to support the local community through the sale of these lands to the club.”

As the deal is not yet sealed between the Carmelites and Ballyboden St Enda’s, The Echo was unable to get a figure on the land sale.

Last year, speculation was rife that the Department of Education was, following a visit to the site, interested in acquiring the land for a new secondary school planned for the Firhouse area.

While the Department has confirmed to The Echo that it has identified a site for the new school, it cannot confirm details due to commercial sensitivities.