Nuachtraiteas - Press Release -
Nuachtraiteas
Final Revamp for Down GAA Headquarters
Contract Signed for
£1.2m project at Pairc Esler
The GAA in Down has
announced the commencement of work on the long
awaited final phase of the Pairc Esler, Newry,
redevelopment, following the confirmation of grant
aid under the Sports Council’s Safety Stadia
Programme.
The sum
of £800,000 has been allocated from this scheme
towards the total cost of £1.2 million now being
spent on the completion and roofing of the South
Stand, new access and turnstiles, and additional
safety and ancillary works.
The
balance of the capital expense is being made up from
“partnership funding” from within the GAA itself.
To qualify for the government grant, issued by the
Department of Culture and Leisure (DCAL) under the
Safe Stadia programme, Down had to meet a level of
“partnership” funding required under the scheme, and
this has been provided by Club Down, while
additional support has also come from GAA Central
Council, the Ulster Council and Newry & Mourne
District Council.
The Down GAA County
Committee has been working for three years, in
conjunction with Club Down, on the plans for this
stage of the development. In addition to the
completion of the “state of the art” cantilevered
grandstand, it is understood that the pitch is to be
completely relayed and floodlights will be
installed.
Together with the work which has already been done
to date, this will mean that by January next, Pairc
Esler will be transformed into one of the best
appointed GAA grounds in the country.
County Chairman
Jerry Quinn announced that the contractors would be
on site immediately and there is every optimism that
these final major elements of the Pairc Esler
redevelopment will be completed in time for next
year’s Mc Kenna Cup & National League campaigns.
“Following a
stringent tendering process, overseen by the Sports
Council, the contract has been awarded to Eamon
Murphy Contractors”, Mr Quinn said. “The project
will be managed by Brian Laverty, of Delahunt &
Laverty, Architects, and a project committee is in
place, comprising members of the County Committee
and members of Club Down, who will monitor progress
and direct the project.”
He thanked the
clubs of Down who had borne the greater part of the
financial burden of the Pairc Esler project in its
initial stages, and Club Down whose role has been
crucial in taking over the project when it had
stalled and successfully bringing it to completion.
The ground will be
closed from June onwards to facilitate the extensive
works covered by this phase, which will ultimately
give a ground capacity of over 20,000, with some
4,000 seated in the new stand. The stand will also
incorporate modern press facilities and special
provision for disabled persons, with a lift for
access to the higher levels. New crowd control
measures with improved CCTV & radio communication
systems are all part of the ambitious package of
improvements. During the ground closure, Shamrocks
GAA will relocate to Derryleckagh for their usual
club games.
At the signing of
the contract on Friday 9th June at Pairc
Esler, Sean O’Neill, former Down All-Star
footballer, and now Chairman of Club Down,
acknowledged the role of the Danny Murphy and the
Ulster Council in bringing the project to this
stage, as well as the energy and efforts the
officers of Down GAA. He also thanked the
representatives of the Sports Council for their
diligence and assistance in the grants procedure.
Finally he paid
tribute to the Foundation Sponsors and Members of
Club Down whose financial support over the past
three years has given significant impetus to the
future of the GAA in Down.
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