SINN Féin MEP Martina Anderson has welcomed the opening of new facilities at Sean Dolans GAA club in Creggan, Derry.
Speaking at the opening of a new pitch at the club, Ms Anderson said: “This is a great moment for this club and this community.
“Sean Dolans has a long and proud history of carrying the torch of Gaelic games in the Creggan Community and in the city of Derry.
“This city is always seen as a soccer city. However, when you look at the participation of children, young people, young adults and families in Gaelic games in Derry City and across the different fields of hurling, football, camogie – nothing could be further from the truth.
“And when we link into the sporting element of our culture – the dancing, the music and language sectors – our city has a vibrant Gaelic cultural mass to be very proud of.
“Why Derry is less promoted as a GAA bastion is maybe because we are not highlighting or championing our clubs and our events and activities enough. That is why it is very important for Sean Dolans to do what they have done today. It is a public declaration of intent in terms of Gaelic sporting games in this community, this city and county. I am deeply proud to be part of that.
“We must put in place the structures to encourage children and young people to participate in Sean Dolans, families to become members of Sean Dolans and we need the structures to sustain this in terms of the finance, the coaching and the players required.
“The current Sean Dolans committee has worked tirelessly to sustain the club over recent times – they brought the club to the place we are at today – which is a good place – but we want to be even better, bigger and back to winning campaigns.”
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