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LAST UPDATE | 24 Jan
CONNACHT GAA’s Air Dome was destroyed by high speed winds this morning as the destructive Storm Éowyn passed over Mayo, members have confirmed.
The €3.1 million facility officially opened near Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo in January 2022, and has hosted GAA games at inter-county, schools, club and colleges level. The site is used extensively by teams around Connacht.
“The campus is destroyed, it will have to be entirely replaced or rebuilt,” Connacht GAA Secretary John Prenty told The Journal.
“It will need a full new campus now”, Prenty added.
Connacht GAA confirmed that there were no members of staff on site at the time, and no injuries were reported when the dome came down.
Connacht GAA members had checked the site at 2:30am this morning ahead of Storm Éowyn, but Prenty explained that the damage was “unavoidable”.
“We did our best to get out and check it, but somewhere between half 3 and half 4 this morning the site came down,” Prenty said.
He described how the site was one of “the most talked-about GAA facilities” in Ireland, with teams travelling from across the country to play in it.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the site was the largest indoor sports air dome in the world at the time of its opening, measuring 150 metres long and 100 metres wide.
The construction phase got underway in late 2019, although the site was forcibly shutdown just a few months later, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to delays in construction, the site opened two years later in 2021.
“It was a one-of-a-kind site, a lot of training, matches and events will have to be cancelled until we get back up and running again,” Prenty said.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly said in a statement that that he had contacted the Vice-President of the European Commission to see if “emergency aid” can be provided “to help rebuild” the air dome.
Liam Grant, an ultimate frisbee player who was set to host the National Frisbee Championship in the air dome this weekend, said the destruction was “heartbreaking” for the “incredible” staff and wider community.
The Frisbee Championship which was due to start there tomorrow has been cancelled.
“It was great for us and other sports to have a site to use when it’s wet and windy out, which is often the case in Ireland,” Grant said.
Grant explained how a number of teams had flown in from the UK, France, Germany and Italy for the ultimate frisbee tournament, adding that the nearby town of Knock had been “booked out”.
“It’s upsetting for all the players, but it’s heartbreaking for John (Prenty) and the other staff, who worked so hard for the air dome – to get the facility to where it is was such an achievement,” Grant said.
Huge damage at @LongfordTownFC pic.twitter.com/4o9rIbDDTX
— Ciaran Mullooly MEP (@ciaranmullooly) January 24, 2025
Longford Town FC’s stadium has been severely damaged in the storm.
Independent Ireland MEP for Midlands North West Ciaran Mullooly has shared images of the damage online and has asked the EU to consider releasing emergency aid for the region to assist with repairs at Connacht GAA and Bishopsgate Stadium.
The back wall of one stand at the Bishopsgate Stadium in Longford has been damaged, according to the images.
Other images posted online appear to show that a larger, sheltered stand appears to be in tact. The First Division League Of Ireland team are due to face Drogheda United in Ratoath, Co Meath tomorrow night.
Elsewhere in Co Mayo this morning, a number of roads, buildings and sports facilities were affected by high winds caused by Storm Éowyn.
The stand at McGovern Park in Newport, home of Burrishoole Gaa destroyed due to #StormEowyn pic.twitter.com/0zJXic5Amp
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) January 24, 2025
Mid West Radio reported that Burrishoole GAA club was badly hit by the storm, with one of their stands reportedly being destroyed.
With reporting by Muiris Ó Cearbhaill
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