Each year the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport considers applications for grants under its Sports Capital Programme. As you are all aware, just over 12 months ago DLSP made a successful application and were granted an allocation of €159,973 which was awarded for a programme of scheduled improvements to our club.
Since it's awarding, a number of our members have undertaken to voluntarily help with the allocation and delivery of this grant. Their commitment is to make the most of this investment, ensuring positive effects for the club's facilities both in the immediate future and beyond, as we aim towards rising back up the leagues by also strengthening the support structure for what happens on the pitch.
Over the coming months we will be giving regular updates as to what phases have been completed and are delighted to advise in our inaugural update that the first phase of work's will be shortly completed.
Phase 1 of the programme saw the initial efforts being placed into completely refurbishing the shower room. The existing room has been completely stripped and is expected that we will have the room fully operational for use by Tuesday 18th August next.
A second phase work was also carried out to extend the existing weights room into a larger area during the summer. To create this space a wall was knocked down between the weights room and the adjacent dressing room so we now have the appropriate space to fit out a full gym area.
A detailed analysis of how to utilise the new space withe the provision of additional new equipment was also conducted and priced.
We are currently awaiting for the Department to issue the funding element for the new equipment (which is imminent) and this will then delivered and fitted as a matter of urgency.
Alongside the above works we will also be conducting works on the toilets in the changing room area.
These are simply the first steps in what will be a year of change and investment in our club.
Under the grant programme there are specific processes to be followed which mean we must follow a sequence rather than all happening at once.
We expect the improvements to continue right up until next summer, ensuring that the grant is used to it's full potential and we will continue to provide updates on the remaining elements that are to be completed with regular developments over the coming months on the New Boiler system, Pitch improvements, Wheelchair access/toilets and Women's changing facilities.
We thank you for your patience and support.
John Phelan
Karl Burke
Owen O'Leary
Stephen King