A multi-layered naming rights deal for Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be tabled for Cork County Board delegates to ratify in a closed-door meeting tonight, January 16, according to a report from the Irish Examiner.
The Irish Examiner reports the deal is worth between €250,000 and €300,000 a year to Cork GAA. Three other companies — Boston Scientific, Statkraft, and PepsiCo — will also have subsidiary stadium branding privileges as part of the package.
The Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium company filed an operating loss of around €331,000 last year, the Irish Examiner noted.
Cork GAA describes Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the “celebrated Gaelic games stadium” in Ballintemple, Co Cork. The first stadium was opened in 1904 as the Cork Athletic Grounds and was later reopened as Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 1976. The Stadium underwent an extensive two-year renovation commencing in 2015 before reopening its doors in 2017.
The stadium is named in honor of Padraig O Caoimh, who served as General Secretary of the GAA from 1929 through 1964.
News of the rebrand, which emerged on Monday, came as a shock to many, including Dónal Ó Caoimh, the grandson of Padraig O’Caoimh.
Dónal said on X on Monday that he learned about the renaming through the media and that nobody from GAA had reached out.
"I'm in shock and saddened tonight," he added.
Thanks @RealPMurphy , as Padraig O'Caoimh's grandson I’m just learning about this decision tonight through the media. Nobody from the GAA reached out to me to tell me this was being discussed. I’m in shock and saddened tonight. https://t.co/Buo1bok8nT
— Dónal Ó Caoimh (@donalocaoimh) January 15, 2024
The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy also hit out at the reports on Monday night, saying that O’Caoimh's story "still matters."
#GotCork Place, history & memory matter in Cork, sad to hear the memory of Pádraig Ó Caoimh v much eliminated; Corkonian, IRA volunteer & 35 years developing the GAA in the early Irish Free State; a huge legacy left; his story still matters; rethink on re-naming NB #proudofCork https://t.co/a7w5l5KmiD
— Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy (@cllrkmac) January 15, 2024
In a further statement on Tuesday, Dónal said that his grandfather "embodied the empathy, hospitality, and community spirit that is the essence of the GAA."
Dónal said he found it "galling" that SuperValu "would consider making the eradication of my grandfather’s legacy a condition of sponsorship."
He continued: "The gateway is open for the sale of our heritage and narrative for profit.
"My grandfather’s story inspires young players to dream. You take away the absence of focus on money and corporations from games and you have lost what makes the GAA unique. The cornerstone of the organisation is volunteerism not corporations."
Dónal said that the Cork County Board's meeting on Tuesday night being held behind closed doors is "profoundly undemocratic."
He added: "I have faith that Páirc Uí Chaoimh will forever retain its original name in the hearts and minds of the people of Cork.
"I understand the importance for raising funds for the sustainability of the GAA but there needs to be sensitivity to history. The stadium is part of who the people of Cork and indeed of Ireland are. It is in our DNA. It is woven into not just our sporting history but our cultural and social fabric also.
"The proposal has been broadly met with dismay and anger by the general public with the Lord Mayor of Cork calling for the proposal to be rejected."
Dónal added: "To the best of my knowledge, no one in my family was contacted by the GAA or Cork County Board to explain that this proposal was being considered."
Later on Tuesday, Tanaiste and Cork native Micheál Martin also criticized the proposals, saying he was "deeply disappointed and annoyed" by them.
He noted that the Irish Government "allocated €30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights."
Deeply disappointed & annoyed at the proposal to change the name of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Pádraig Uí Chaoimh was a key figure in the formation of the GAA at club and national level.
Govt allocated €30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 16, 2024
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