‘Support MacSharry Park upgrade’
Work in progress at Ray MacSharry Park,
THE secretary of the SligoLeitrim and District Soccer League has made a renewed appeal for local support to complete the resurfacing of Ray MacSharry Park.
The pitch is currently receiving a facelift – with a high-quality, artificial pitch replacing the traditional grass surface.
Noel M Kennedy has said that the project is coming along on schedule and is expected to be completed in time to host some local finals. and Sligo-Leitrim District Soccer League secretary Noel Kennedy,
“The project is flying. We started on May 4 and we hope for completion by the end of July. The shock pads arrived in today like big bales of hay – it is very exciting to see and it is going to be something to be very proud of.”
He explained that an investment of €50,000 would allow the committee to comfortably complete the project and survive the rest of the year without income as fees from the cancelled 2020-21 season carried into the new season which is due to get under way shortly. The FAI has committed to paying €100,000 to the SligoLeitrim League for the project – at a rate €10,000 over 10 years. The committee has received a loan of €150,000 from Clann Credo over 10 years but there is a shortfall to complete all the necessary works.
Mr Kennedy said that support locally for the project has not been forthcoming, though the issue was recently raised at a
Sligo County Council meeting by Cllrs Declan Bree and Gino O’Boyle who were informed that all options for funding would be explored. Mr Kennedy said: “We thought that the council would be elated to support something in Cranmore that benefits the community. We haven’t asked for a penny from the clubs and we won’t, but we would like to think the civic-minded people would support this.”
He went on to say that the potential for Ray MacSharry Park is far reaching – with the new surface have a lifespan of up to a decade. He feels what the new facility can bring to the Cranmore community and the wider Sligo community is something worth supporting. He said: “It will have regional, provincial and national potential. Everyone will want to use it because we are central and it will be like a carpet to play on and the FAI will want to do coaching on it, it will be a top of the range facility.” “€50,000 takes us over the line and we survive the rest of the year without income. Whatever happens, we will do this, but we would love to see more local support for a facility we are providing for all young people which has a lifespan of eight to 10 years. This is something for the community which can be used all year round, this should be seen as an opportunity to support a facility which benefits so many people.”