Inis M—rÕs long struggle for dressing rooms is over

IT has been a long time coming but this week a very significant event took place in the life of those living on the Aran Islands and, in particular, Inis Mór. For after a decade of campaigning, fundraising, dealing with red tape and vying for grant aid, the locals finally turned the first sod on the development of new dressing rooms at their community field.

Understandably, there is some excitement permeating throughout the community, typified and exemplified by secretary of Pairc Einne field committee, Clodagh Ní Ghoill. After 10 years of hard slog, she can barely believe that the committee’s work is, at last, coming to fruition. 

“At the moment, we have a timber shed divided into two dressing rooms and it is not suitable,” notes Ní Ghoill. “It was a temporary solution when we opened the field [in 2002] and we were hoping to have the dressing rooms built not too long after that.

“However, with the economy crashing, and the delays we had in the planning application, the funding collapsed on us. So, it has been a long haul and it is good now for the island to see something happening, something positive,” she says.

No doubt, it has been a protracted process for Coiste Meitheal Oibre Cill Einne, the committee which was initially set up in 1991 to campaign for street lighting along a stretch of road where a local young person was killed in a tragic accident. “Then, in 1996, we went about getting the proper land, started fundraising for a football field, and, in 2002, the football field was opened,” outlines Ní Ghoill.

With the field now home to the local Gaelic football club, in addition to ladies football, cycling and athletics, among other sports, the need for fully equipped dressing-rooms to replace the timber shedding was recognised.

In 2006, planning permission was sought but ran into difficulties with the Department of the Environment [at Galway County Council]. To carry out all the works that was suggested to build the dressing-rooms, it would cost almost €2 million, says Ní Ghoill.

So, over the ensuing years, Coiste Meitheal Oibre Cill Einne have gone back to the drawing board on numerous occasions, making the modifications, downscaling, and generally dancing every jig and reel that was thrown at them. Finally, in 2009, they got their planning permission.

“However, with the crash of the economy, there was now no funding to build the dressing rooms,” says Ní Ghoill. “So, we applied to Comhar na nOileán and, thankfully, we got funding off them for €200,000 last year. Once Comhar na nOileán approved our grant aid, we tendered for the building of the dressing rooms and KS&G got to work on the project this week.”

She says the immediate aim “is to get the main shell of the building up and get it enclosed”, noting the total cost of the project, including shower facilities, will come in around €310,000. “Once that is done, we will go back ourselves to paint it and tile it and do all that sort of stuff. We are calling it phase one, and it is very much to get it up and get it built.”

In order to meet the balance in payment, an extensive fundraising campaign is being undertaken. One of the initiatives they are pursuing is their ‘Buy A Block’ venture, through which the committee is selling inscribed blocks in the dressing rooms for €10 and through which they hope to raise €40,000. “All donations are kindly welcomed,” quips Ní Ghoill, who hopes GAA and sports clubs from across the county will support their venture.

Indeed, the lack of facilities is not only a major drawback for sporting enthusiasts on the Aran Islands but also for the visiting teams – and others – from the mainland. “Yeah, one of the downfalls for us is when visiting teams come in . . . that we have no proper changing facilities for them.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.