Work begins on new £500,000 Carrickmore sports facility

WORK has started on a £500,000 multi-purpose indoor training facility at the grounds of Carrickmore GAA club.

It is hoped that the new amenity will herald the start of a new era for the gaelic footballers of the area. Site clearance began just before Christmas, with work expected to take upwards on a year.

Among the facilities to be included are a 60×30 indoor training facility and it is also hoped to have a 4G pitch. The scheme will help players from the club – which recently won the Tyrone All-County League title – to train inside during inclement weather conditions.

Club PRO, Maurice McPhilips, said most of the finances for the work had been raised through the support of the community and club members through the Spirit of Carmen initiative.

“The club are extremely thankful to the Spirit of Carmen members for their support and the support of the entire community,” he said.

“Our aim is that this new facility signals a new era in development at the club that will allow us to give current and future generations the best training facilities available.

“We have an aggressive timeline to complete the build, but we are not setting specific dates for completion.”

The new amenity will be situated at the scoreboard end of the ground.

St Colmcille’s Park celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2021. The venue has been popular for Tyrone championship matches at all levels during that half-century and was the first in the county to have a covered stand.

In 2017 plans were unveiled for a £4.5 million multi-purpose facility in the town. However, that ambitious development has not proceeded.