A NEW sports initiative has been launched in north county Dublin.
Former Olympian David Giilick and Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Gráinne Maguire (Ind), officially opened the Communty and Sports Office in Balbriggan last week.
At the event, Mr Gillick spoke passionately about the positive effects of community on people’s lives and in particular their mental health.
He also commented on how he benefited from engaging in a physical activity programme in his local community after he retired from professional sports.
The Community and Sports Office is a joint initiative between the Sports & Community teams in Fingal County Council and will be of great benefit to the town of Balbriggan over the coming years.
The new office is located at Flemington Community Centre and houses a team consisting of Community Development Officer Mick Dunne and Community Sports Development Officer Ciaran Russell.
Mick Dunne, the Community Development Officer, who traditionally covered all of north Fingal, will now focus solely on Balbriggan.
The work that is ongoing in terms of support to community and voluntary groups, research, and development of projects and initiatives to benefit Balbriggan can now be deepened as a result of the dedicated presence in Flemington Community Centre. The Community Sports Development Officer is a new post for Balbriggan.
Speaking at the event Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Ciaran Russell and wish him success working with groups and clubs throughout the town to promote access to sport and healthy lifestyles.”
The Community Sports Development Officer position and the creation of a Balbriggan Community Sports Hub have been made possible with Dormant Accounts Funding through Sport Ireland.
Mr Reid also thanked the Fingal Sports Office team who submitted the application to Sport Ireland and the Community Office team who supported the process. Deputy Maguire thanked Flemington Local Development Group, on whose behalf the application to Sport Ireland was made.
“Balbriggan is a great place to live and work and we need to keep promoting the positive messages coming from the town such as this new office being launched,” she said.
Regarding the social and economic development of the town, Mr Reid said: “Fingal County Council is currently engaged in a substantial regeneration of Balbriggan across a range of areas including public realm, economy and enterprise and training and education.
“Work is ongoing and significant Fingal County Council resources will underpin the social and economic strategy and help to realise positive and lasting change for the town.”