Mayo GAA club opens fantastic new facilities

Davitts GAA Club in Ballindine held the official opening of its new Remote Work Hub/Office Space, Community Lighted Walkway and Energy Conservation and Solar Panels on Friday, May 17th. 

The project provides additional facilities for the local community with a safe walking track, accessible to all, and a remote working facility. The walkway is already a great success and was used throughout the winter by the local community and members of the club. 

In conjunction with RTÉ's Operation Transformation, many members of the community met up every Wednesday evening in January for an hour of exercise and chat in a safe environment, which proved to be very popular during the dark winter nights. Parents use the walkway while children are training at the club as they are able to watch their children and walk at the same time. 

The Remote Work Hub has also generated a lot of interest from local businesses as the cost is low due to the installation of solar panels.

The club is extremely grateful to the groups who provided funding and support for this project, and to the committee who all work extremely hard in improving and keeping the club’s facilities to the high standard that they are. The project was part-funded by Mayo Local Action Group (LAG) by the EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 with implementation support by South West Mayo Development Company and LEADER initative.

Davitts secretary Barbara Kelly was a capable MC for the evening and she welcomed the large attendance including Fr O’Connor, Mayo Local Action Group chairman Cllr Al McDonnell and Cllr Richard Finn, South West Mayo Development Company chairman Thomas Fitzpatrick, South West Mayo Development Company chief executive Sabina Trench, Mayo Local Action Group chief executive Deirdre Finnerty, LEADER representatives, Norita Clesham, Seán Carolan and Majella Mulchrone, Mayo GAA Secretary Ronan Kirrane, local councillors and election candidates, Darren McHugh of McHugh’s Builders, members of the local community groups and businesses, Michael Ring TD, who has been an enormous help to the club down through the years, and Minister of State Alan Dillon TD, who performed the official opening of the new facilities.

Davitts chairman Lawrence Daly, after welcoming everyone, said the project began in February 2021 when things were still relatively quiet as Covid-19 was still a concern and many people were still working from home while elderly people were feeling isolated. 

"The committee in Davitts is always looking for ways to improve and enhance our facilities," he explained. "We were made aware of grants which were available through the LEADER initiative of the South West Mayo Development Company."

Mr Daly said he contacted Sabina Trench who introduced him to Norita Clesham who went through what was available and what work would need to be done to be successful in achieving the grant.

A sub-committee group was formed which included the chairman, John Costello (secretary at the time), Michael Waldron and Ronan Kirrane. It was decided that the club would apply for a grant through LEADER and South West Mayo Development Company for the project.

"After a lot of paperwork, our application was completed and submitted," he said. "Thankfully, it was successful and work began in the summer of 2023, which was carried out by local building contractors, Pat McHugh and Sons. Once work was completed, it wasn’t long before the facilities were put to good use."

The club's Health and Wellbeing Committee - Paul Cunanne, Gemma O’Neill and Annemarie Kelly - organised an Ireland Lights Up walk in conjunction with Operation Transformation in January 2024. Every Wednesday evening, members of the local community were invited to walk and talk, hugely important after the isolation of many during the pandemic. 

Large numbers turned out each week, from young to old, as the walkway provides a safe secure place to walk, away from traffic and unlit country roads.

The individual work hubs offer local people the opportunity to work remotely in a cost-effective way but at the same time having the social interaction with others working there. 

Mr Daly also thanked Tom Daly and O’Conaire Architects who helped greatly with design and paperwork, the committee members and volunteers of Davitts GAA who are continually working to help and support the club in growing and enhancing the facilities and John Noone and Lucy Daly who look after those facilities.