Cabra pitch protest

Orla Dwyer
 

THERE was a strong turnout for a protest held by a Cabra Gaelscoil and GAA club last week calling for the completion of a local pitch that has been left unfinished for over a year.

Naomh Fionnbarra GAA club signed over its all weather pitch to allow a permanent building to be constructed for Gaelscoil Bharra beside the club.

The Northside Irish school had been waiting over a decade to move out of prefab structures and the GAA club was only too happy to help out.

The pitch was signed over to the Department of Education in January 2016 and while much of the restoration work has been carried out, locals are frustrated that the job is still not finished.

“The pitch is 90 percent complete and it has been like that since last October,” said Naomh Fionnbarra secretary Séamus McGrattan.

 “Renting pitches around here is costing a fortune and we haven’t got the money to do that.” 

The delay was caused by contractors appointed to the job going into liquidation during the summer.

However, Gaelscoil Bharra principal, Seán Ó Donaile, said the situation was an “absolute shambles”.

“It is a disgrace and nobody is responsible for it, that’s the worst thing,” he added.

“The Department of Education hide behind layers of bureaucracy. Nobody is accountable, nobody is responsible. 

“More affluent areas have got more political connections because there is more pressure put in the right places and the people in the area wouldn’t stand for it. But we’re not standing for this, it is a disgrace.”

Vice principal of the school Aodh Ó Máirtín explained how desperately pupils needed the pitch.

“As a school, our yard is very small,” he said. “We depend on the pitch to have it as our place of play at lunchtime and for PE. We have been waiting for it, kids are waiting for it, and parents are waiting for it.”

The schoolchildren are brought to the local John Paul Park for PE, which is a 20-minute walk from the Gaelscoil, while they wait for the work to be completed.

“It’s not impacting their lives maybe but it’s impacting their parents,” added Ó Máirtín.

“They have to get people to pick them up or leave work a bit earlier or whatever it might be.”

Local mum Gillian Kirwan whose 15-year-old daughter Siobhán trains with Naomh Fionnbarra, told how the situation was affecting the club’s young players.

“The team is training from 8-9pm which is not ideal when they’re in school so it’s really affecting them and they’re looking out on this pitch when there is only a few weeks’ work left. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said tender negotiations for completion works were at an advanced stage.

“It is anticipated that an agreed figure can be reached by late November or early December,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that a finish date would be sorted as part of the completion contract. 

However, Naomh Fionnbarra and Gaelscoil Bharra plan to continue their protests, with another one planned for this week on November 15 outside the Department of Education’s Tullamore office.

“It’s just gone on too long at this stage,” said McGrattan.

“We gave the land over in good faith to the Department and we feel we’re not getting that good faith back.”