Major plans for Kilmore

Major plans for Kilmore

7 February 2024

KILMORE Rec are set to undergo major redevelopments to their Robert Adams Park venue after plans were given the green light.

The club have secured funding for the development of a new 3G synthetic playing pitch, floodlights and fencing which will mark an exciting new chapter in Kilmore’s history.

This project required a collective community effort alongside support from grants and various different fundraising schemes and donations.

The Irish FA/DCMS grassroots facilities investment fund, supported by the UK government’s department for culture, media and sport, is one of the main sources of funding for this project. 

The fund is administered by the Irish FA with the assistance of co-operation Ireland. The club also received financial support from Community Finance Ireland.

“Kilmore Rec would like to place on record their sincere thanks and gratitude to the Irish FA/DCMS grassroots facilities fund for providing grant funding of £400,000 toward the project, as well as Community Finance Ireland for providing further financial support,” said a spokesperson for the club.

“Of course, we owe an enormous amount of gratitude to club members, supporters and local businesses who have pledged support to the project with sponsorship and donations up to this point.”

Whilst the improvements made to the venue will benefit the Kilmore club itself, the surrounding community will also prosper as it aims to be the main sporting hub in the Crossgar area.

This, in turn, means surrounding sports clubs can make full use of the venue, making it a worthy investment for all to enjoy and take advantage of.

“For the past year we have really started pushing forward with our project to install a 3G pitch,” said Kilmore Rec chairman David McCarthy.

“The club’s probably never been in a better position numbers wise, we have loads of teams – youth teams, three senior teams, ladies team – and it’s just gotten to the stage now that the club is busting at the seams.

“The facilities in the area are fairly poor, in my opinion. In Crossgar itself there is no real sporting facility, of course we have the playing fields but they aren’t floodlit so we can’t use them to train.

“The club needs to keep up with other clubs in the area who are pushing forward in their facilities and we need to be doing the same.”

Meanwhile,Irish FA CEO Patrick Nelson expressed the importance of quality grassroots facilities.

“Good grassroots football facilities means a better experience for everyone participating in the game, at whatever level they’re at,” he said.

 “This funding will provide 11 new artificial grass pitches and upgrade six existing pitches across Northern Ireland.

 “It aligns with our commitment to support new and improved facilities and, with the hosting of the UEFA Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, it is crucial that the grassroots game across the nation benefits from investment too.”

The Blues will play their last match at the venue this Saturday in a Clarence Cup contest against Castlewellan before making the temporary switch to the nearby Kilmore playing fields, where they will play out their matches for an expected three to four month period.