Sport Northern Ireland has joined officials from Patrick Sarsfields GAC in West Belfast at an event marking the official opening of newly enhanced facilities at the club.
Part of a range of improvements works undertaken by the club in recent years, the event saw the cub official opening of state-of-the-art changing facilities, funded through Sport NI’s National Lottery Facility Fund and funding from the Department for Communities Building Successful Communities (BSC) programme.
Sport Northern Ireland CEO Antoinette McKeown said: “On behalf of Sport Northern Ireland, I would like to congratulate Patrick Sarsfields GAC on the opening of their new facilities. This project is the latest example of how National Lottery players are helping to enrich local communities by creating spaces for people of all ages, genders and abilities to enjoy, engage and excel in sport. Sport NI is proud to have helped deliver these new facilities through our investment, the expertise of our staff and collaboration with the Department for Communities and Groundwork NI. Clubs like Patrick Sarsfields are at the heart of making sport happen and we look forward to seeing the impact of this project in helping them continue their great work in getting people in the local community active.”
Seamus Hillock from the Department for Communities said: “Lenadoon and Glencolin is one of six areas that are included in the Building Successful Communities pilot programme. One of the things we are aiming to achieve with this programme is to improve the local environment through upgrading and improving access to amenities in order to unlock physical and social regeneration. This project was identified by the Lenadoon and Glencolin Regeneration Forum as being a priority for the area. The Department is pleased to have been able to deliver on one of the priorities for the area. We wish Patrick Sarsfields GAC every success with their new facilities.”
Sarsfields Development Committee said: “Sarsfield’s are delighted that the Department for Communities and SportNI have supported them in the development and delivery of these modern and accessible facilities for all in the community, which are widely used by a range of different local organisations.
This has been a great example of a partnership working together for the benefit of everyone including the disadvantaged and ethnic communities and has helped social integration.”
Pictured at the event: Paul Barr (Chair of Patrick Sarsfields), Julie McCann, (Sport NI), Seamus Hillock and Sinead McCollum (Department For Communities)