Clubs to finally get use of changing facility

TWO sports clubs in Swords will finally get to use their state-of-the-art changing rooms that were vandalised just weeks before they were even used.

Members of St Finian’s GAA Club and Rivervalley Rangers FC, who had waited patiently for their new changing facilities to be built in Ridgewood, were devastated in November when thugs vandalised the facilities before they even got a chance to use them.

Since then the changing rooms windows, have been boarded up while work to repair the vandalism has been carried out.

Ironically, one of the last jobs to be carried out at the

?¬300,000 facility before it was vandalised was to put security grills on the windows.

However, before that work was undertaken, eight of those windows were smashed in the attack.

The vandalism followed a pattern of anti-social behaviour at the pitches in Ridgewood since they opened last year.

According to a spokeswoman for Fingal County Council, the repair work cost over

?¬2,000.

“The intention was to have allocated the changing rooms and facilities to local sports clubs some months ago,

? she told Northside People.

“However, the damage and vandalism last Halloween has delayed that, but we now anticipate that the facility will be allocated to local clubs in the coming weeks.

“Due to the considerable lead in time to have replacement windows and protective grills manufactured, we have only recently carried out these repairs.

“Repairs consisted of replacement windows, and the installation of protective grills over the windows, external lights, and the electricity and gas meters.

?

Meanwhile, Fingal County Council is urging any person who has any information about individuals responsible for vandalism and criminal damage to public property to contact either the council or the gardai.

“Repairing vandalised facilities places an unnecessary financial burden on the council, and it is the local community who are affected while these facilities cannot be used,

? the spokeswoman added.

Swords ward councillor Darragh Butler (FF) welcomed the imminent opening of the changing facilities which he said would greatly benefit both St Finian’s GAA Club and Rivervalley Rangers FC.

“This will be a great bonus to the clubs which serve the area so well,

? Cllr Butler told Northside People.

“It’ll be great for the kids to have somewhere sheltered and warm to change after and before training and matches particularly in this weather.

“It’s also fantastic that in this day and age that Fingal County Council found even more money to repair the damage caused to the changing rooms.

?

Cllr Butler condemned those responsible for the vandalism.

“I don’t think these people realise that it could be their relatives, their friends and neighbours who have suffered as a result of the increased delay in opening the facilities,

? he added.

“It’s just mindless vandalism.

?