MacCumhaills members to vote on Finn Harps ground-share proposal

Sean MacCumhaills GAA held an “information evening” on the matter this evening, Thursday, with the logistics of facilitating Harps’ request discussed.

New Harps owner Freddy Gonzalez is keen to start major upgrade works at Finn Park, and correspondence was recently sent to their GAA neighbours inquiring about the possibility of sharing their ground with major redevelopment work set to begin at Finn Park.

MacCumhaills GAA club subsequently contacted members on Tuesday afternoon to give notice of their own specially convened meeting to weigh up the proposition.

MacCumhaills explained that this would be an information evening and that it was “not proposed to make any formal decision at this meeting”.

Christian Happel, Harps’ new CEO, was in attendance at Thursday evening’s gathering in the Sean MacCumhaills clubhouse.

And it was explained that Harps would be prepared to hire a full-time grounds person if the vote did fall in their favour.

That same individual would also be tasked with lining the field, erecting and removing the temporary goal frames and other necessary works.

However, if the vote failed, it was stressed that Harps would have to explore options outside the county as MacCumhaill Park was the only venue inside Donegal that the FAI was prepared to sanction.

It was also made clear to those in attendance that Harps weren't looking to use the ground for training.

And if the move did get the green light, only the main stand would be in operation on match day, and not the surrounding terraces.

The exact financial terms of any possible agreement for the temporary use of MacCumhaill Park during the 2027 League of Ireland season were not publicly disclosed on Thursday evening.

MacCumhaills and their members will now meet once more, within the next ten days, it was decided, to cast their votes.

The League of Ireland First Division season begins mid-February, while Donegal begin their 2027 National Football League Division 1 campaign in January with a trip to Mayo up first.

Donegal have four home games in Division 1 next season, but O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, and Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, will likely host two of those matches.

The pitch at MacCumhaill Park only reopened in May of this year after it was resurfaced, with Donegal playing one 2026 league game in Letterkenny and two in Ballyshannon.

In 2026, recently crowned FAI Cup winners Derry City played five games away from the Brandywell Stadium during redevelopments, as they played at their neighbouring Celtic Park, home of Derry GAA.

And it was announced on Tuesday that Bohemians, who are redeveloping Dalymount Park over the coming years, will play a number of games in the RDS in 2027.