Council in U-turn over EU GAA centre support

Council in U-turn over EU GAA centre support

10 April 2024

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council has overturned a controversial decision not to support Down GAA’s bid for EU funding for a multi-million pound centre of excellence in Ballykinlar.

Last month, the local authority’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee ruled the £10m GAA project earmarked for a 12 acre site — that would include four full size pitches, one of which would be floodlit, covered stand, office space, player facilities and multi-use games area — would be in direct competition with the council’s plans to develop a £7m community hub in Warrenpoint.

Following a secret debate, the council committee said that while it noted the Down County Board’s EU application for the multi-sports hub, it was, unfortunately, not in a position to support its bid cor PeacePlus funding and would not provide a letter of support.

However, the committee’s decision – which was described by former Armagh All-Ireland winner Justin McNulty as “absolutely baffling” – was overturned on Monday night by the full council following another behind-closed-doors discussion when the press was excluded.

The Down County Board had requested a letter of support from the council as part of its bid to secure cross community party political support for a share of European Peace Fund cash.

The ambitious project will also include a museum and interpretative centre reflecting the intertwined culturally significant role of the site to both Nationalist and Unionist traditions.

Monday night’s U-turn has been welcomed by local politicians and Down GAA chairman Jack Devanney.

Crotlieve Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Ruane, who proposed the refusal decision at last month’s council committee meeting, called for an amendment on Monday night, prompting the council to discuss the issue in secret.

Subsequently, council chairwoman Valerie Harte confirmed in public that following a vote it was agreed to amend the committee’s proposal not to support the GAA application and to sign as an associate partner.

Following the meeting, Downpatrick councillor Oonagh Hanlon, the leader of the local authority’s Sinn Féin members, said her party colleagues “have been determined in resolving the matters arising following last month’s ERT committee meeting and to ensure councillors received all the correct information before this process could proceed any further”.

She continued: “It is positive that the matters have now been resolved and we have been able to overturn the decision at last month’s ERT committee meeting.

“Sinn Féin will continue working with both council and Down GAA throughout the process to ensure this project can continue progressing smoothly.”

Cllr Hanlon said it was now time to advance the vision for a Down GAA centre of excellence and that her party has been working closely with the local authority and the Down County Board in advancing the vision for a centre of excellence at Ballykinlar. 

She added: “We have supported the development of a Down GAA centre of excellence at Ballykinlar for many years now and will continue demonstrating our commitment to supporting Gaelic games in Newry, Mourne and Down.”

Independent councillor Jarlath Tinnelly said he commended the “change of heart shown by those who previously refused to support the request”.

He added: “Ballykinlar will be transformational for all the Gaels of Down, by providing state of the art facilities for all the county teams across all codes and, as has been proven across the country, when the facilities are built success on the field normally follows.”

Down GAA chairman Jack Devaney said he welcomed finally having council support for the funding application.

“We were taken aback and confused by the previous committee recommendation, whereas this decision makes a lot more sense,” he said.

“We have taken steps to engage with the council to understand what was behind the previous recommendation. There are of course a number of other projects in the mix for the EU funding, but we feel we have a strong case, and council support for our project is important.”