The city’s largest GAA club is planning to expand its footprint by acquiring another site outside its catchment area — a move that has annoyed neighbouring clubs.

Salthill/Knocknacarra already owns about five hectares of land at Mincloon, Rahoon, which it has earmarked for playing pitches.

And now it has signalled it wants to buy a further five acres beside its existing site.

The club’s executive, in a Notice of Motion to be debated at its Annual General Meeting this December, has proposed the purchase of more land.

The motion reads: “The club proposes to purchase up to five acres of available land for purchase adjacent to our existing site at Mincloon for between €200,000 and €400,000 and for which the purchase price will be verified by two independent auctioneers and which will be presented to the club executive before the final purchase.”

Plans to develop its existing site in Mincloon were put on ice after three neighbouring clubs mounted major opposition.

The sports development was needed, according to the club, to satisfy increased growth in membership, including juvenile members, particularly girls.

But Rahoon/Newcastle GAA Club, St Michael’s GAA Club and CLG Bearna all issued statements last year indicating they were opposed to the development of facilities outside Salthill/Knocknacarra parish boundaries, and within their catchment areas.

In April of 2023, Salthill/Knocknacarra said it was ‘tweaking’ the plans before lodging a formal planning application.

Permission has yet to be sought for the plans, but officials from the club had lobbied politicians ahead of last June’s Local Elections.

Pitch development plans were first floated for a site in Mincloon in 2014.

It was rejected by planners the following year due to traffic concerns and because the site fell within the route options of a proposed new road.

Since then, councillors voted in favour of a specific objective in the City Development Plan that said City Hall would “support and consider” the site for the development of recreational and amenity, including playing pitches.