Gyproc seek planning for sports ground

Gyproc has applied for planning permission to develop a replacement sports ground for Magheracloone GAA Club.

The application has been lodged with Monaghan County Council. It follows the sudden emergence of a crown hole in September 2018, which resulted in the destruction of the club's pitch and facilities.

The company, Saint-Gobain Mining Ireland Ltd, gave an undertaking to replace the GAA facilities and community centre that were destroyed in the incident.

The plans provide for the construction of a new playing pitch, goalposts, ballstops, dugouts, pitch fencing and single storey dressing rooms.

The application also covers toilets, parking area, wastewater treatment system, percolation and attenuation areas, boundary fencing, new entrance onto R179 public road, and all associated site works at Drummond, Derrynaglah and Knocknacran West, Magheracloone, Monaghan.

The crown hole resulted in the destruction of the pitch and facilities when an abandoned underground area connected to the Gyproc gypsom mine collapsed. Cracks and crevices emerged after massive amounts of water were pumped into the Drumgossatt mine from the adjacent Drummond mine during a flooding emergency. The water weakened the old mine structure, causing support pillars to collapse.

Since the September 2018 event a number of other smaller crown holes emerged, the last one in April of this year.