Unique £1.5m Cuchullains Sports Academy opens
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Ulster Chairman Aogan O Fearghail, Dunloy’s Paul Shiels also Antrim Senior Hurling Captain, GAA President Christy Cooney, and North Antrim Chairman James Mc Lean at the opening of Cuchullains Dunloy Sports Academy.
THE new £1.5 million Cuchullains Sports Academy is the only one in Ulster dedicated solely to GAA.
The Academy is built on a 15 acre site in the centre of Dunloy village and adjacent to the local primary school.
The area already boasts two full sized, enclosed playing pitches, changing rooms and a social area.
The new building consists of 50 metres by 25 metres, third generation Astroturf pitch which meets the latest GAA specifications.
On the ground floor there are changing facilities that are fully equipped for disabled access. There are also public toilets, reception area and a cafeteria area; complete with tables and chairs.
On the first floor there is ample space for a fitness suite and a strength and conditioning suite. These areas will be furnished during phase two of the project.
The outdoor area consists of Brit-Mac which measures 65 metres by 60 metres.
There is a fifty metre high ball wall with the potential for third generation Astroturf, flood lighting and fencing which constitutes phase three of the project. All of these will compliment the two full sized pitches already in existence.
“The Sports Academy was built using funds received from Croke Park because the club view this new build as a Regional centre for the development and promotion of Gaelic sport within the Antrim, Derry and Donegal areas," outlined club PRO Colum Cunning.
“ Sport Northern Ireland also contributed financially through a grant accessed via their Building Sport programme. The remainder of the finances have been raised through the local community and primarily from the Club Dunloy direct debit scheme."
Colum outlined that the local business community have also helped by their generous donations to the project.
“The total cost for the completion of all three phases of the project is £1.5 million. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Antrim County Board and the Ulster Council in helping with our successful bid to Croke Park," he said.
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