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Please support the GAA in North Belfast

  • 23-03-2010 8:37am
    #1
    weebelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭


    For the last 30 years Ardoyne Kickhams and Patrick Pearses have been playing at the old Cricket Ground at Cliftonville and have been repeatedly denied the right to have changing rooms at the facility by Belfast City Council. It may be hard to believe but since the area is so built up, this is the only available grass pitch in all of North Belfast. Yet, it can only be used for limited fixtures due to the lack of changing facilities. For this to end, we hope you will add your support to influence the city councillors before the start of April. Please forward this message to anyone you think who may support our rights to proper provision, and, promote and encourage participation in gaelic games in the city.

    Please click on the link below to sign the petition.

    http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/184355201


Comments

  • #2
    I dont know
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 153 ✭✭I dont know


    Hi there, you may want to post this on hoganstand & gaaboard.com as well.

    Just a question, What are the Clubs involved doing to secure changing facilities for the ground? From the petition it just appears they are expecting the city council to provide the facilities? Has there been any attempt to buy/long term lease the land off the city council and build your own facilities? Just asking because if yous went that way, it may be easier to get financial backing from the sports council & lottery. A lot of boxes have to be ticked in order to be eligible for such grants, but the Ulster Council have a lot of experience from helping other clubs apply for them and im sure they’d be keen to be involved as it would contribute to their Ardú Bhéal Feirste vision


  • #3
    weebelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭weebelly


    It's already been posted on hoganstand.
    Briefly, the two clubs have used the ground for about 30 years now. Ardoyne have been trying to develop facilities on an adjoining site for a number of years which has dragged through the planning process.
    To put this in context, Ardoyne field a series of adult teams in football, hurling and camogie, none of whom can play home games in North Belfast. Pearses only field one adult team, the senior footballers. Both clubs field a host of underage teams in most grades in the different codes. St Endas are, in effect, a North Belfast team although their grounds are in Glengormley. The lack of a suitable venue has been a series constraint on the promotion of the GAA in the North of the city.
    If you don't know the area - have a look at North Belfast in satellite view on google maps. There around 20-22 soccer pitches on council property in the area. All are provided with changing facilities. The only grass pitch for gaelic games is the one in question (known as The Crickey). There is a great artificial pitch at St Malachy's College but it can't be used for most competitive fixtures. Acquiring a large enough site to develop a pitch would cost in excess of 2m to buy, never mind develope, which is beyond the reach of most pockets. At this stage, it is surely an embarassment that the council won't provide rate payers with suitable facilities at the Crickey. Between the two clubs there are more than enough fixtures to justify changing rooms at the grounds as they would probably be in constant use.


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