Motion to open Ballinakill to clubs for free meets with strong resistance

“BALLINAKILL doesn’t run for nothing, do you understand that,” was Martin Fitzgerald’s reaction to the fourth motion put forward at the County Board meeting in Ballinakill recently.

The motion: ‘Offer the floodlighting and training facilities at no cost to adult teams for clubs without floodlights in their own pitches. This would apply to the clubs that have qualified to latter stages of club championships.

‘Currently, club teams are charged €120 per session for use of the floodlighting training facilities’, was put forward by the Kilcoole club who agreed to withdraw it in the early stages of the discussion.

Wicklow GAA development officer Billy Byrne said that he would appreciate the withdrawal of the motion due to the cost of running the Centre of Excellence.

“I’d appreciate it if you would withdraw it. The cost of Ballinakill on an annual basis is running at €75 to €80,000 a year, to maintain the place, to keep the place ticking over.

“The only source of income we have at the moment is from development squads and the few clubs, ladies football and camogie. So, we really have to sit down and decide the future costings of Ballinakill with Colm (Finnegan) and the new treasurer whoever that’s going to be.

“Because every time we switch on the lights out there there’s a cost, there’s a cost to maintain everything.

“I would love to be able to do it. I’m sure of a club came to whoever to ask for facilities I’m sure we’d look after you but I would ask you to withdraw this (motion).

The motion was withdrawn.