Good pod. But jeez, it really is compounding just how far off the pace Mayo are when you hear about Galway’s plans on the site of the airport on top of having Lough George. An ideal, central location well served by motorways (plural) and good flat land… not on a flippin bog!!!

I’ve not read one newspaper article or heard any comment on any Mayo related podcasts that seem to think the Bohola project makes sense. Of course we desperately need facilities for our county teams but the far more sensible, affordable, progressive and achievable avenue seems to be to go down the pod route; strategically located, linked with second levels schools.

I’d love to hear a pod on this topic. It’s crucial. Could it be that the CB have the blinkers on and have committed solely to Bohola!? Or do we know if other options are being properly considered.

Again, it seems incredibly amateur and messy. The whole topic of Bohola wasn’t even discussed at this most recent meeting?? Give me a break!

John Gunnigan talking so much common sense as usual. Interesting pod lads!

Why is there such negativity about bohola ? The negative press over this amazes me .

I’m not sure anything Mayo GAA related amazes me anymore. But my question is why is there so much criticism and doubt in media in relation to Bohola? Ed McGreal had a very interesting article during the summer on it.

We all want facilities and a home for Mayo GAA. I’d agree with Tom Reilly that the term ‘Centre of Excellence’ isn’t accurate. It’s a Centre of Development. But terminology aside, we need a focal point, a base etc which creates unity etc but it needs to be done right.

Why haven't we seen any positive press??

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0915/1533619-youthful-tyrone-exuberance-battling-rural-club-issues/

An interesting article on Tyrone. Again, drawing from Tom Reilly’s pod (and anyone who hasn’t already listened to it, I’d strongly recommend you do. It was insightful and in my opinion the best Mayo GAA Podcast by quite some margin) and his knowledge on Tyrone GAA. They really are the standard-bearers over the past 25 yrs (Kerry aside). They’ve essentially come from relative footballing obscurity, with respect, to become a leading county in Gaelic Football. Their ability to unite, organise, fundraise and create a winning ‘can-do’ mentality is something Mayo should be looking to emulate. We, in comparison, just seem to trundle along. Some of our teams and managers deserve credit for their endeavours over this period despite a backdrop of disorganisation. It proves we do produce the talent but our structures and facilities let us down. Again, going back to previous Mayo GAA pods and discussions, I think Rob mentioned something along the lines that the appointment of a Director of football for Mayo GAA was more important than the appointment of the manager of the senior football team. I fully agree with that. The debate and discussion just seems to have evaporated. We need a group of leaders to manage Mayo football (affiliated and linked with the CB and leave managing football in Mayo (aka the club scene) to the people on the county board.

And schools…a whole topic on its own..massively important in the development of our county teams.

The Bohola site is a bog and I think it would be crazy to build there despite the central location.

Personally don't care if the Bohola site is a bog,in the wrong place or has a fairly Fort on it.
Like Knock airport back in the day.....
Just feicing build it.

I’m sure they’ve tested the soil / ground , it’s either good to go or it’s not doable ? I’m glad you agree it’s a central location , cause that was the first argument on the against side , then it was money & now it’s the soil . Are we afraid of actually doing ?

Crikey I hope there are big plans for London fundraisers , I expect a bigger than ever mayo following to be over . Half a million to be made easy .

Bohola Project is wrong for a load of reasons
1. Not central
2. Bad ground so limited expansion possibilities
3. Poor infrastructure from south and north to get there

There are other options - increased no of facilities in Castlebar and Bekan
Both of which can be done for half the cost

The previous momentum about talking about Mayo football has died a death since Moran/Higgins appointment. Let's be clear - they won't win an All Ireland until the other problems in the county are fixed

Serious question...

Has it ever been put to Mayo GAA as to why no fundraising was conducted on our last trip to the US? An enormous opportunity lost. I get lost for words thinking about it.

I thought John represented a well felt view of the Hollymount Carramore Kilmaine debacle. The line take your beating comes to mind for it

Sean Burke I believe contractor verdict on soil in Bohola was that it would be very challenging but possible, as would anyman tendering for a job they can always do it. At a price:
"With drainage challenges on the waterlogged east Mayo site already well-documented, officials acknowledged ‘very little development’ will occur for at least 12 to 18 months.

The site, it has emerged, suffers from high water tables, deep peat patches, and the need to raise large sections of land near the roadside by up to a metre.

Each pitch will require an intensive dual-drainage system, potentially making groundwork particularly complex and costly."

Another new pod is up on Patreon, this one the Intermediate Championship quarter-final preview show with Mike, Rob and Aidan Kilcoyne. To tie in with this I've just put up a new poll to see what the mood is on who'll win the Intermediate Championship. (Note: this poll doesn't factor in what might happen in the Holly/Carra saga!)

Our third pod of the day is now up on Patreon, this one's the senior preview, with Ger Flanagan joining Rob and Mike for it. 20-minute taster segments of this pod and the Intermediate one are also now available for free on all podcast platforms.

Tirawleybaron, what do you mean Bohola is not central? Like its 10 mins from Castlebar, its 25 mins from ballagh the east side and from ballinrobe 40 mins, prob crossmolina the same..so I dont know how much more central you can get.

Someone from belmullet going to bohola or castlebar is very little extra distance

Winston it would add 20 minutes on the round trip to each session, which may not sound too bad, until you factor in the original trip was 1hr 11 minutes before the extra mileage.

2hrs 40min driving up to 3 or 4 times a week is hard slog on parents of underage teams.

You’re right Gizmo, not to mention the parents don’t get mileage payments for bringing their kids to training and matches.

Can we not approach the Mayo County council again about land in or around Castlebar to develop pitches instead of paying extra to develop it in boggy land in Bohola.is there any chance of developing pitches near Lough Lannagh?? A joke aswell that this 800 thousand wont even be spent on a full size pitch.

It is gizmo, but no matter where its built there'll be people driving long distances will there not?

The fact that's its taken this length to build a centre is criminal for a top football county.

Winston

It isn't central, ask anyone from Erris, Achill, Louisburgh, Kilcommon.
It's 20min from Bekan.

The cheapest (and likely best solution) is to add two pitches to Bekan for Mayo GAA only and getting the last few fields around McHale Park (including moving the halting site), or the back of Davitt College.

Basically, add pitches where facilities are already in place , don't build new facilities in the bog that have no public transport links to most of the county.

Bohola Project is folly and will break Mayo GAA, similar to what Kiltoom did to Roscommon GAA

@tirawleybaron, totally agree, work out an agreement with the existing COE in Bekan, to initially lease one if not two pitches and then plan to add more pitches in Bekan (funded by Mayo County Board etc). This would be a far more cost effectively solution than building a complete new COE in Bohola, with all of the additional development costs of facilities, changing rooms, and infrastructure.

There would be nothing wrong with the Bohola site if it was within striking distance of Castlebar.

“ It isn’t central, ask anyone from Erris, Achill, Louisburgh, Kilcommon.
It’s 20min from Bekan.

Bekan is further away though , I don’t follow .

Anyway ott about location , create a bit of employment , get grants for doing so , hire a couple of coach drivers , purchase two coaches , pick up points to COE and back home again , a dozen trips pw , 40 hrs work for the driver x 2 , 8/9 months per year , 5 year plan , see how it goes , nothing ventured nothing gained .