Council agrees to let land to Raheny Shamrocks for new clubhouse

After years of campaigning, Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club is preparing to build a brand new clubhouse after Dublin City councillors voted in favour of the local authority letting out a site to the club for the construction of the facility.

At a North Central Area Committee meeting last month, the local representatives backed a deal that will see the council lease a 0.3 acre piece of land to the club for between €3,000 and €5,000 a year.

The land is located on All Saints Drive behind the Cara Hall Community Centre, near St Anne’s Park.

A report drafted by the council found that the estimated market value of rent for the site is €30,000 – meaning the club is receiving a large discount from DCC.

Raheny Shamrocks will continue to get the discount as long as the clubhouse is only used for sports, community and recreational purposes, says the council.

It will also be the responsibility of the club to fund, build and obtain planning permission for the facility.

Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí said the club’s facilities “are really poor” and a new clubhouse has been badly needed for a long time.

In February, Dick Hooper, a club member and three-time Olympian gave a presentation to Dublin City Council outlining the club’s history and why it was imperative that the club finds a new home.

The club has been in the old village schoolhouse behind the scout’s den in Raheny since the early 1960s.

“The club celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2018.

“Since its foundation it has been serving the community in developing and promoting athletics as a sport for all,” he said.

Hooper said that the club “is an integral part of the Raheny community and surrounding areas.”

During the presentation, he said that the current building “is entirely unsuitable for our needs,” and the new proposed clubhouse will be approximately 6,000 square feet.

“The area required to facilitate the clubhouse is located immediately adjacent to the Cara Hall.

“The building will be designed in scale to complement the existing Cara Hall.”

The new clubhouse will include a sports hall, gym room, toilets, changing rooms, showers, offices, a kitchen, and storage for equipment.

“It is our intention that our new building will be consistent with the physical vista of all other buildings in the vicinity and we will continue to be good neighbours,” he said.

Other councillors have also voiced their support for the clubhouse, with Green Party councillor Donna Cooney saying the proposal has been “warmly welcomed.”

Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Heney said the club provides “an amazing amenity” for the community and was impressed with the club’s extensive and detailed plan.

Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club was founded in 1958 and has over 600 registered members and three Olympians amongst its ranks.