As counties face the twin problems of rising costs and lack of space to expand facilities, more and more are now being forced to look at the lucrative alternatives being put on their desks.

These include enticing land swap deals that would take county grounds out of their traditional town setting and cash adjustments as sweeteners in the deal-making process.

In Clare this weekend, a flurry of activity surrounds the expected sale of Cusack Park as developers vie for the keys to the Ennis ground. A senior county board source told this paper that close to a dozen separate offers were tabled by close of business last Wednesday, the final date for receipt of expressions of interest.

The frenzy to acquire the coveted site has been pushed beyond the 30 million originally quoted.

One consortium are understood to have offered to construct a 42,000-capacity stadium outside Ennis and has promised the development of the GAA's 70-acre site in Tulla, which received planning permission on Thursday. On top of this, the board would receive an unspecified monetary sum.

"You can't put a price on this kind of deal", the source said. "Some of those originally against the sale have a changed attitude now and a move would seem likely. It makes sense and could secure the future of the GAA in the county."

At least half a dozen other county grounds are known locally to have come under the developer's attention. St Conleth's Park in Newbridge and Cusack Park in Mullingar are among the stadia also under close scrutiny from developers anxious to find prime site and cash in on the Celtic Tiger.

Given the lack of prospective urban development sites in many of these towns, the respective county boards are well aware that they are holding a strong hand in negotiations.

In Kerry, the board has been alerted to an imminent move on its grounds at Austin Stack Park in Tralee and soundings have been made to relocate to a site on the edge of the town.

The Carlow county board were also aware of an approach to purchase some of its ground at Dr Cullen Park and question marks hung over the future of Wexford Park prior to the stadium's redevelopment.

The unprecedented interest in the Ennis ground and the value of the offers received this week will alert other county boards of their potential worth.

If Clare is to be the model for future negotiations, then the GAA will enter talks from a strong bargaining position.

The clubs of Clare will decide on the future of Cusack Park and a proposal for sale will be put to these clubs in April.