At present, a number of developers are scrambling to purchase Cusack Park in Ennis in what could be the first in a number of high profile stadium sales. That the home of Clare GAA could be part of a deal worth well over the original estimate of 30 million will open the eyes and options of county boards throughout Ireland; that a county board is seriously contemplating trading its town centre site will have sent developer's hearts aflutter.

Notice has been taken on all sides, in all counties.

Already, official moves have been made to purchase Austin Stack Park, Tralee, while Cusack Park in Mullingar, and Newbridge's St Conleth's Park are being openly targeted. "St Conleth's sticks out like a sore thumb", said one Kildare developer. "And some property developers are now focusing on putting the right offer together".

For an offer to make sense to a county board a purpose built stadium with ample ground for development would have to form the nub of any deal, which is why the proposals in front of Clare appear so tantalising. At least one consortium had promised a modern 42,000 capacity stadium within a 15-acre site on the edge of Ennis as part of its bid. Then came this week's juicy news that another was willing to match this plus develop the county's 70-acre GAA site in Tulla, just outside Ennis. An all-weather pitch, abundant meeting rooms, a modern gymnasium and a monetary sum provide yet more seduction.

Plans to redevelop Cusack Park have been on the table since 2003 but tackling a rickety stadium that hasn't had a facelift since the 1970's seems like hard work given the current state of play. To toil on a redevelopment project and raise funds to progress the Tulla grounds at the same time could equate to financial mismanagement when these plans could be exceeded in exchange for the Ennis grounds. These cold facts would dictate an imminent sale and so Cusack Park may be the first domino to topple.

It's not just county boards that are considering the future at their current locations. All across the country urban clubs have stood back and watched their financial weight soar over recent years.

Some have opted to make hay from the situation, most notably Nemo Rangers who moved from their traditional base in Turner's Cross to a larger site on the outskirts of Cork city. Tralee club John Mitchells recently secured a sale on their club field for a price of 8 million, which led to speculation over Austin Stack Park.

This weekend, Claughaun of Limerick are waiting for confirmation of an offer on their Childers Road grounds for which they would hope to receive 14 million. In Wicklow, a handful of clubs are exploring the option of relocating . . . a move already undertaken by Bray Emmets, while the county board have long considered options with their grounds at Ashford, estimated to be worth in the region of 10 million.

A sharp rise in Ballybofey land prices has helped Finn Harps soccer club press ahead with plans to move to a nearby stadium in Stranorlar. Their current home in Finn Park is said to be worth 5 million. "MacCumhail Park is a bigger ground [than Finn Park] and would be worth close to 10 million", commented a local property valuer. "If there was an offer to provide suitable county facilities, the GAA could sell up and move to a 30-acre site on the edge of town. More space, less hassle with parking."

Moving to a greenfield site brings the obvious advantage of room . . . extra capacity to develop sporting facilities both on and off the field. Stadiums constructed sixty, seventy years ago on the fringe of small towns are now gobbled up and fenced in by housing developments, roads, shopping centres. Lack of space to expand amenities is a major problem. The GAA is finding itself landlocked, no room to manoeuvre . . . an elephant in a cubicle.

And yet, it's not so simple.

For all the sensible, factual reasons that make selling up a reasonable consideration for some counties, it's the intangible that could have the biggest say in the debate. A sense of belonging and place has defined the association and there are some against moving from the spiritual home. It's already started in Kerry and Clare. Some reckon that the 'heart and soul of the GAA' is being threatened by the sale of Cusack Park while similar soulful headlines have seeped into Kerry media.

Then there's the clearer argument that an unbroken presence in the heart of Ireland's cities and towns is a vital lifeline for the GAA.

Pros and cons aside, it will take just one deal to point the way - to demonstrate that things won't seize up and die if a county moves from its long term pad . . . and then perhaps a number will follow. If, as is likely, a deal in Clare forges ahead in the coming months then similar propositions will increasingly fall on the top table of county boards. And nobody is entirely exempt from the lure of the developer.

Even the keys to grounds that were recently redeveloped by their county boards won't be locked away forever.

In five or ten years those millions invested in 2003 or 2004 may dwindle in comparison to what's being tendered. In most cases, simply, money will talk. Developments at Nowlan Park have turned out a fine and modern stadium.

But the commercial heart of Kilkenny is bearing down on Nowlan's neighbourhood and a couple of shopping centres are planned for the area, a stone's thrown from either parallelogram. What happens if the stadium doubles or triples in commercial value?

Would it make sense to turn away a huge offer for the sake of tradition and a previous, though fractional investment?

What if the offer secured the future of games in the county all the way to the next millennium?

When Wexford Park was being transformed into a state of the art facility a significant congregation believed the county would be better served if the grounds were sold and a new location was found.

Even now, there are those who firmly stand by their opinion that the Wexford county board missed the gravy train.

That same engine has stalled in Ennis and though it may be lost on developers, Cusack Park will reach the ripe old age of 70 this May.

It's going to be a birthday to remember. But the question is: how will it celebrate its 71st?