CLUB MAKES A WINNING DEAL
St Patrick’s GAA Club purchase 30 acres for expansion
ST Patrick’s GAA Club’s long search for a new site has come to an end with the purchase of 30 acres on the Greenhill Road.
The current club grounds on Dunbur Road consists of one full playing field and a small juvenile training pitch, with no room for further expansion to accommodate the 700 plus members of the club.
‘I am delighted with this development as this secures the long-term future for St Pat’s GAA Club and its future members for generations to come. I would like to thank those who have helped us this far and I look forward to the next chapter in our great club’s history,’ said club chairman John Gill.
St Pat’s has teams at juvenile and adult level in football, hurling and ladies Gaelic football and only just recently formed a camogie club. St Pat’s home at Dunbur Road will continue to be the centre of the club activities.
A special information night for members and fans will take place at the clubhouse on Thursday, August 10.
ST PATRICK’S GAA CLUB has secured its longterm future with the purchase of 30 acres on the Greenhill Road.
The historic club, formed in 1886, had reached capacity at its current location on the Dunbur Road in Wicklow town.
‘I am delighted with this development as this secures the long-term future for St Pat’s GAA Club and its future members for generations to come.
‘I would like to thank those who have helped us this far and I look forward to the next chapter in our great club’s history,’ said St Patrick’s GAA Club Chairman John Gill.
With 700 members, fielding teams at juvenile and adult level in football, hurling, ladies Gaelic football and the recent formation of a camogie club, the pressure on pitch facilities was unsustainable. This led to the decision to search for a suitable site to develop further playing facilities in the town area.
The club’s home at Dunbur Road will continue to be the centre of the club activities.
‘It just goes to highlight how popular the club is. We are growing each year. We have been looking into the infrastructure at the club, mainly the pitches, and we just didn’t feel they were adequate enough to cater for the numbers joining the club each year,’ said Mr Gill.
Dunbur Road has one full playing pitch and a juvenile training pitch, with no room for any further expansion.
‘Dunbur Road will still remain the hub of the club,’ said Mr Gill.
‘The new site is 30 acres, while our grounds in Dunbur Road are only about seven acres. So if you can imagine Dunbur Road multiplied by about four-and-a-half, then you get some idea of how the site in Greenhill Road will look when it is finished.’
The purchase was achieved through the use of club savings and a substantial bank-loan.
Some years ago there was a possibility that the club might relocate to Brideshead as part of a planning application from Wicklow Town Council for a sporting development to include pitches, an all-weather running track and a sports hall.
However, Wicklow County Council turned down the application in 2009 because of concerns over the impact on the environment and traffic safety.
It is envisaged that the newly purchased site could accommodate two pitches and a training area, however the topography of the site means it will be some time before the pitches are ready for use, between two to three years at least, according to club sources.
The club looks forward to sharing plans for the Greenhill Road site with members and supporters at a special information night taking place in the clubhouse at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 10.