DARRAGH Cross Gaelic Club is hoping to build a new multipurpose sports hall and social club through voluntary donations.
The club is running a ‘Buy a Brick’ ccampaign and also hoping to secure voluntary labour once building gets underway.
Established in this rural hamlet since 1964, Saint Mochaoi’s Darragh Cross GAC has provided Gaelic games for the people of the Saintfield, Ballygowan and Darragh Cross areas. Growing in strength and numbers, in 1991 it opened its new pitch Saint Mochaoi’s Park, followed in 2001 by a new changing pavilion.
The club is asking families to buy a brick at £100, which can be paid in instalments. Alternatively, 1000 blocks can be sponsored for £300.
All donations will be acknowledged in a plaque in the new building.
The project is estimated to cost £85,000 and to date people have pledged approximately £50,000. Ideally the club would like to see the project completed by Christmas.
Darragh Cross GAC chairwoman, Una McClements, has thanked everyone who has already contributed their time, expertise or money, and said their focus was to provide facilities for younger and older people living locally.
“Our main aim in building this facility is to give back something to the community that supports us,” she said.
“After the Gaelic playing season has finished there are no facilities in the area for the youth, you have to travel elsewhere and during the week when children have school to attend this is far from ideal. Our aim would be to get a youth club up and running and also provide the facility for other indoor sports to be developed like basketball, netball, and badminton etc.
“Modern day society recognises, and rightly so, the need to have facilities for young people but a group that is often neglected is our older generation. Their needs have to be catered for as well and we would like to see the establishment of a senior citizens club.”
Una said that within their rural community a lot of older people lived on their own and needed a facility where they could come together and socialise.
“We would also like to establish a bowling club where people of a more mature age can still participate in sport but one that is more suited to them,” she continued. “This new development will create the facility for all these things to take place.
“The old parochial hall in the area is in a dilapidated state and has been closed for some time now; the new development will provide a modern, up to date facility for the whole community to use. So whether it is a children’s birthday party or any other activity or function the facility is there for the whole community to avail of.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by posting their contribution to the Treasurer Mark O’Connor, 34 The Arches, Darragh Cross, Crossgar, BT30 9HD. To become involved in the project or for any more information contact Una McClements on 07796 016579.