As our club grew and developed on the field of play it became obvious that the next natural step was to find a home of our own and set down strong roots within the community. After investigating a number of potential sites we have finally settled on a site in the Ballyarnett Park area adjacent to Amelia Earhart cottages and Cornshell Fields.
We are currently only awaiting the approval from the Department of Social Development to allow Derry City Council to transfer the land ownership to Na Magha. We have obtained full planning permission and have stage one approval from the Sports Council for funding. Ulster Council has been approached and is anticipated they will offer substantial financial help.
Our consultants have forwarded finalised plans and costings to the Sports Council for Technical approval. Tenders will then be sought from pitch development contractors. We anticipate Approaching SCNI in the near future with final funding requirements and beginning onsite soon after. The onsite development work is anticipated to take 12-14 weeks with costs for “phase one” pitch and perimeter fencing currently approx £400,000.00
Three Years from beginning onsite we will then be entitled to re apply for funding to SCNI. This will be for a four changing room facility with substantial indoor area all designed specifically to meet the need of a growing club of hurlers and camoges for the foreseeable future.
Whilst striving to achieve this base we must work doubly hard, as the development of our skills base, youth teams (girls and boys), seniors and working in tandem with the community is as essential as any pitch or building.
Getting to this stage would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the members of ground development and finance committees, but also the entire club and its extended network who have sold or bought tickets in the development draws. As the club cannot rely solely on funding from others to make our dream a reality but we have to generate our own funds, and we hope that in this our 25th year that the generosity already shown will continue.
