Just seven weeks ago the Killashandra room in Rory Dolan’s was filled to capacity with committed GAA folks as the New York Minor Board was scheduled to announce its most recent project That would be the proposed redevelopment of Redmond Field on Cook Avenue, Yonkers, and projected to become the future hub of GAA activity in Westchester County.
The chairman of the New York Minor Board, Danny Browne was heading to the podium to present the planned development sequence when suddenly he slumped to the ground. Naturally there was great consternation and trepidation among all present to see the very dynamic GAA leader lying prostrate on the floor. Then thanks to the timely intervention of Liz and Fiona, by applying lifesaving skills, they literally kept Danny ticking until emergency medical help arrived.
Danny was transported to hospital, and of course the presentation was cancelled. Since then the chairman, with the aid of some cardiac interventions, has made a full recovery, and has bounced back like a well-inflated O’Neill’s football. And as the adage says, all’s well that ends well, and that certainly was the case with the Minor Board leader. He was back at the top table last Friday to ensure that the relaunch of the Redmond Field would proceed smoothly.
Danny was greeted back with great applause and jovially proclaimed that he would not be giving a repeated performance. He then proceeded to thank everybody who came to his aid, those who offered prayers, good wishes and Masses for his recovery, and especially the two ladies who literally saved his life, namely Lisa and Fiona. He also acknowledged Mike Brosnan, the Vice Chairman, for keeping his hand manfully on the tiller when he himself was indisposed.
This project is certainly up and running. In the early days of December the New York Minor Board negotiated a 25-year lease with the City of Yonkers for the development of Redmond Field. That included three playing fields, one a full size and two smaller or practice fields. The redevelopment is a three-stage process with the final phase on this 35-acre site to be finalized in 2027. The projected price tag is circa $3.5 million. Meanwhile Mike Kennedy (fundraising chair) gave a very comprehensive report on progress to date, which was greatly augmented by graphics and charts. And if a picture is supposed to be worth a 1,000 words, that definitely was the case with Carolyn Martin splendidly performing the role of videographer on her Raleigh bicycle. The projected cost of phase one is about $1.7 million and fundraising, a key component of this project, got a great jump start as Tara Circle kicked in a quarter of a million. Since then another $600,000 has been raised, thus allowing work to continue. So far site leveling, drainage schemes and sprinkler systems have been completed. There were concerns raised about flooding as it was reported to have been a perennial problem in Redmond Field. Pat Mahoney, who has been deeply involved in the ground level work reported that the City of Yonkers had already invested over $600 million to address flooding issues in Yonkers. Pat noted that despite some torrential type rain in November, flooding problems have been abated with a storm water remediation system. If work and events adhere to the schedule, opening day will be in mid-April. By then permanent netting backstops will be installed, perimeter field fencing completed, field linings installed, permanent goalposts erected, concrete bleachers built, main entrance and ramp operational, new offices in the existing clubhouse, plus trenching and conduit for field lighting and scoreboard will have been laid.
So hurling and football games will be on the agenda when April comes, and once the lights are operational in the Fall, games and practice will be operational after dusk. That certainly will be a major boom or bust to a Minor Board schedule that has become more and more congested as the Board continues to expand.
Naturally the emphasis initially will be getting the three playing fields up and running, but this project is about much more than playing fields, Bear in mind that this is a 35-acre site that when fully developed will have something for everybody. It will be a family or community-oriented facility. It is envisaged that a playground will be installed and an adult outdoor gym for those who wish to pump a bit of iron. For the more aerobically inclined, there will be trails to walk, jog or run on. Suffice it to say that the needs and comforts of the users will be adequately addressed as there will be a pavilion, a clubhouse, bathrooms, scoreboards, bleachers and ample parking available.
A project of this magnitude requires plenty of funding and that task has been allotted to the capable hands of Owen Cummins as Financial Chair. He’s prepared to explore all possible avenues, including individual and corporate sponsorships. However the Tipp Man was quite adamant that we can all do our bit. The New York Minor Board Inc. is a registered NY State Charity, a 501c3, non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible. New York Senior Board is fully committed to supporting the project financially. It was also suggested that Croke Park should look very favorably upon this project given their phenomenal largess to Casement Park in Belfast. In any rational analysis you have to conclude that the future of the GAA in New York lies with the Minor Board. Redmond Field seems ideally located with its strong Irish and Irish-American community to foster Gaelic games. They will be emulating what goes on in Frank Golden Park in Queens, Rockland’s facility in Orangeburg and Paddy’s Field in the Bronx.
This Redmond development is embracing what was once an integral part of Irish culture, namely the meitheal. This was essentially a procedure where a group of neighbors came together to assist in farming projects. Here on Cook Avenue we have a group that combines their diverse expertise and experiences in the pursuit of a very valuable outcome. Besides Chairman Danny Browne and Vice-Chairman Mike Brosnan, Pat Mahoney, John Ryan, Owen Cummins, Shane Lynch, Carolyn Martin, Noel Cronin, Mike Kennedy, Keara O’Connor and John O’Neill currently constitute the rest of the Redmond meitheal.
Incidentally Redmond field is very conveniently located just off the Cross County Parkway and little more than a stone’s throw away from Tibbetts Park and McLean Avenue, Yonkers, aka the Emerald Mile. The field was named after a Hugh Francis Redmond who was in the US Airborne division in World War 2. He was sent to Shanghai in 1946 for intelligence gathering. Unfortunately he was arrested in 1951, held captive as well as being tortured for almost twenty years before passing away in 1970. Anyway hope to see you up there soon, coaching or cheering on the youngsters or getting a bit of a workout on the trails or outdoor gym.
