Mayo FC chairman responds to land zoning report and third tier application update
Mayo FC chairman Joe Faughnan has acknowledged that discussions surrounding potential land acquisition for the club remain “at a sensitive stage,” following a recent report in The Connaught Telegraph outlining early zoning developments linked to the club’s expansion plans.
Speaking after last week’s Mayo FC press night, councillor Joe Faughnan said he could not comment publicly on the specifics of the site in question due to the delicate nature of ongoing talks.
“So there was a story in the Connaught Telegraph on Tuesday about land acquisition outside here,” he said.
“I can’t actually say anything on that tonight, because it’s at a sensitive time.”
The chairman added that both the club and Mayo County Council had hoped the details would not have been disclosed at this stage.
“We probably would have hoped that it wouldn’t be leaked to the Connaught Telegraph, because Kevin Kelly, the chief executive of the council, was a bit disappointed,” he said.
“Talks are ongoing on that.”
While remaining tight-lipped on the negotiations, the Independent councillor and LOI club chairman stressed the club’s urgent need for additional facilities, citing the strain on Milebush Park during a packed 2025 calendar.
“You had, was it five teams this year? Between the schoolboys, the women’s league, senior games and stuff, it was just chock-a-blocked all year,” he said.
“That’s something that has to be looked at for the club because we will have to go outside Milebush for training sessions and games.”
He praised neighbouring clubs for their cooperation in providing access to pitches when needed.
“We were lucky enough that some clubs were able to give us their facilities this year, Manulla was one club that we got a few times, and it’s great to be able to get it,” Mr. Faughnan said.
“But you would like, if possible, to have it all in the one place.”
These comments come at a time when Mayo FC look to be a certainty in terms of joining the League of Ireland third tier, with confirmation set to be announced later this month.
The Mayo FC board informed the press that the club was just 5% shy of a First Division League of Ireland licence due to its impressive application and presentation made to the league in Abottstown over the summer.
League and FAI officials look set to visit the remaining clubs involved in the League of Ireland third tier in the coming weeks as they whittle down the 10 clubs for the north section that will be in Mayo’s section and another 10 for the south of the country.