Strand Celtic recently held their sod turning ceremony for their new clubhouse at Strandhill Community Park in the heart of Strandhill village. Minister of state, Jimmy Devins, supported by other local politicians performed the turning of the initial sod.
Other local politicians to attend the event included MEP Marian Harkin, Senator Marc McSharry and local councillors Tony McLoughlin and Deirdre Healy-McGowan. The club are very grateful to all the politicians for their support of the development.
Chairman of the Strandhill Community Park committee, Peter Tiernan, supported by Club Chairman, Mick McEnroe, helped minister Dr Jimmy Devins turn the sod on this crucial development for the Strandhill and Ransboro areas. This is a flagship day for the people of Strandhill and Ransboro and will provide for much needed facilities.
The contract has been awarded to local builder, Tommy Horan, of Horan Building Services (HBS). Tommy has commenced work and hopes to complete the development by September of this year. Tommy is well know and a very popular local builder who has completed a range of other excellent developments in Strandhill village.
The community park trustees who have supported the development include Peter Tiernan, Manus Shields, Kieran Tobin, Frank McMorrow and John Keane. The project was supported by the Strand Celtic Development Committee, chaired by Damian Henry and whose members include Des Cosgrove, John Keegan, Ray Simon, Damien McCallion, Mick McEnroe, Roberty Ryan, Justin Harte, Brian Redmond, Pat Carter and Paddy Doherty.
This latest stage of our Development Plan will provide two new state of the art changing rooms, toilets, referees changing rooms, a second story function room with panoramic views of the new playing fields and additional car parking. It is hoped that all work will be completed in September to coincide with the start of the new season.
Strandhill Community Park is vested in the people of Strandhill through a board of trustees. The park has been in the village for over forty years and Strand Celtic are the primary users providing football to over three hundred people last season. Other users of the park include Strandhill Tennis Club, Strandhill Youth Club, Strandhill/Ransboro community games and Strandhill national school.
All of these groups use the park at various times and it has become an essential part of our community in an area historically starved of sporting and leisure facilities.
Strand Celtic Soccer Club is the primary user of the facility providing sport for over 340 members. Strand Celtic soccer club now caters for an even greater area including Strandhill village, Ransboro and stretching to the west side of Sligo City.
The development plan has five phases with the first phase complete, which saw the laying of two new all weather grass pitches. The other stages include:
PHASE III: ALL WEATHER FACILITY
The objective of this phase is to provide a multi-sports surface for tennis, football and basketball. It is expected that this project would take twelve months from initiation to completion. A lottery application has been made for this development.
PHASE IV: GYMNASIUM
The objective of the fourth phase of our development is to provide a gymnasium as part of our clubhouse facility. Strandhill is lacking even basic gymnasium and exercise facilities. While there were originally plans for a hotel development in Strandhill some years ago these have not materialised and consequently the nearest facility is over ten kilometres away.
A survey amongst club members identified over one hundred members or their families who were prepared to support and use a gymnasium facility in our area.
PHASE V: FLOODLIGHTING
The objective of the fifth phase of our development is to provide floodlighting to enable teams to use our facilities for training in the winter season, when most soccer is played. It is also hoped to increase the number of boys and girls playing sport at U16 and U18 level through changing times of matches. Many boys and girls from 15 onwards have jobs that mean they work on Saturday and Sundays. Installation of floodlights will allow our club to schedule games in evening times that will in turn keep children involved in sport and reduce the attrition rate.
A golf classic is being held on August 22nd to support the development at Strandhill Community park and anyone interested in sponsorship or entering a team can contact any of the golf classic committee Robert Kelly (087) 988 7752, Katie Cadden (087) 919 7308, Mickey Cox (087) 907 3341, Damien McCallion (087) 686 0096 or Mick McEnroe (086) 234 3304. In addition tee times can be booked directly on the time sheet for the day with Strandhill golf club on 071 9168725.
All developments are undertaken in partnership between Strand Celtic football club and Strandhill Community Park Ltd.
Full details on the strandhill community park development plan are held on the strand celtic web site at www.strandceltic.com