The former Dundalk FC-owned site at Hiney Park sold at auction in Dublin yesterday for €60,000 – €40,000 more than its reserve price.
The c1.67 hectares of irregular shaped land, which is zoned as recreational, sits opposite Oriel Park and fronts onto the R178 Carrickmacross Road.
It had been placed on the market by NAMA through Dublin-based estate agents GW2, who carried out the auction at Leopardstown Racecourse yesterday.
Over the years it had been used by Dundalk FC’s underage and ladies sides for training and matches while it was also a popular running route, known locally as ‘The Furry Glen’.
While the buyer’s identity has not been revealed, it is understood that Dundalk FC did not bid for the land. Dundalk Grammar School, who own a nearby piece of land now used by the club for training purposes, were amongst those interested however.
Dundalk FC initially sold Hiney Park – named after former chairman Eamon Hiney – to local businessman Gerry Matthews in 2005 for a sum somewhere between €750,000 and €1m.
Mr Matthews would go on to build the Youth Development Centre, now Oriel Active, on part of the land but this portion of the land is unaffected by the sale.