Museum for Kingspan Breffni as part of tourism hub plan
Exclusive
Exciting plans are in train for a major new permanent, year-round, exhibition at Kingspan Breffni Park in collaboration with Cavan County Museum and Cavan GAA.
The exhibition will form part of ambitious plans by the county board to turn the stadium into a hub for tourism in the Cavan Town area.
The board intend to install a commercial kitchen and coffee shop with a view to attracting visitors for stadium tours, to include the new interactive exhibition.
This is the first stage in a large-scale project, which will include the development of the new Polo Grounds Centre of Excellence, adjacent to the proposed regional sports centre.
Once complete, it’s believed to be the first permanent historical exhibition at a GAA county grounds.
The exhibition is described as “inclusive and wide-ranging, focusing on the GAA’s manifesto of ‘We All Belong’”.
It will “bring to life how the GAA has contributed to County Cavan’s cultural, social and sporting heritage. It will offer people an opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique story of Gaelic games in Cavan from past times to the present day.
“This exciting new installation will be a great boost to the county and somewhere to store and present the legacy of Cavan GAA for future generations to interact with,” stated county board chairman Kieran Callaghan.
“It is part of an over-riding plan, which we hope will bring major footfall to the stadium outside of match days. Kingspan Breffni is more than just a pitch, the vision is to turn it into a hub for the area and bring in visitors.
“We are working closely with Cavan County Museum on the installation and with Cavan County Council in terms of tourism.”
100th anniversary
The 100th anniversary of the opening of the stadium falls in 2023 and the board hope to develop it into a Croke Park-like centre which will be family-friendly and include walking tracks and a park, with the coffee shop key to what is being viewed as a “visitor experience”.
Cavan County Museum is engaging with a group of professional historians and creatives including author George Cartwright to create an exhibition space that covers the GAA’s role in Cavan and the surrounding areas.
The all-encompassing exhibition will focus on the areas that make the GAA in Cavan so special, exploring the rich heritage of the 42 clubs throughout the county as well as the county team itself. It will “include something for everyone with exhibits on the footballing triumphs but also the renowned Scór competition highlighting the vast culture and creativity within the GAA with exhibits on music, drama, dance, and the Irish language”.
The exhibition will also focus on the important role of volunteerism present in the GAA.
“The GAA has a deep history of volunteerism seen so clearly recently with clubs across the county mobilising during the Covid 19 lockdowns to support vulnerable community members. It is important the exhibition highlights the contribution volunteers have made to their communities over the years in Cavan,” said Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Sarah O’Reilly.
Cavan County Museum is currently seeking clubs and members of the public across the county to get involved, to send in memorabilia, artefacts, photos, stories from your experiences with the GAA.
“We at the Museum are delighted to be working on a project that will mean so much to people. It is hoped that the exhibition space will become a fantastic resource for the whole county as well as an attraction for tourists to visit,” curator of Cavan County Museum Savina Donohoe said.
“At this stage of the planning we hope to hear from as many people as possible, I encourage anyone who wishes to be involved or support the exhibition to contact us here at the Museum.”
The new exhibition installation will be situated in a large space formerly used as a gym at the rear of the main stand. The board hope to have it ready for visitors later this year.