Local TDs go the extra mile for charity Better facilities needed to grow soccer in Ireland

BeTTer facilities are needed in order to grow soccer in the State to the levels that it needs to be at, Sinn Féin’s ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil during a debate about funding for football.

The motion, tabled by the Labour Party, received cross party support on the last sitting day before the recess. During his contribution, Deputy Ó Murchú confessed to playing ‘badly’ at a regular seven-a-side game at the Gaels facilities in Dundalk.

the large scale sport infrastructure fund and sports capital grants to be considered. An across-the board solution is needed. The likes of Woodview Celtic in Dundalk do not have grounds.

DunDalk PTSB staff had a helping hand from local politicians Peter Fitzpatrick and Ruairi O’Murchu to complete 100km on treadmill for charity on Friday last.

The volunteers completed 100km on a treadmill on Friday, July 14 from 10am to 4pm to raise money in aid of Irish Motor neurone Disease.

according to PTSB staff member Darren Watters from Bay Estate, approximately 30 people took part in the event.

“We were gifted a loan of two treadmills. One was from

Energie Fitness by Pierse Duffy and treadmill is from nicola McCallaghan, an ex-staff member,” said Darren.

Owen Duffy, PTSB Territory Manager for Monaghan and north louth was one of the people who ran on the treadmill.

“It worked out to around 5km per half hour. There were also a few guys who did a bit of walking. It just depended on their level of fitness,” said Owen.

“PTSB staff suggested a number of charities which were shortlisted then Head Office let the public choose the beneficiary.

“It’s great to get local support from politicians and from customers and members of the public. It’s all about giving back to the community. We would like to thank everyone for their support.”

Owen added that when the final figure is totted up, the donations will be matched by PTSB and given to Irish Motor neurone Disease.

He said: ‘On some level there is agreement across the board. We welcome the work the FAI has done. We know we need facilities from top to bottom. My county has two teams.

‘There is Drogheda United and there is also Dundalk FC, which I wish the best in its game against the Magpies in Gibraltar on Thursday. I hope we can have an element of a european run but who knows.

‘Oriel Park, United Park and many other grounds are not up to the standard they need to be, if we want soccer to be the industry it could be. There is a need to address the issues that have arisen for players since

Brexit. It has created difficulties in the context of making it with teams in england.

‘We need to put all those pieces together. There is real interest and the numbers are up with League of Ireland, but, even in terms of sustainability or getting television stations interested, it has to be about facilities.

‘We need local authorities,

Speaking afterwards, Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘Facilities, such as those available in League of Ireland, matter. Stadia in the league are really important, and so are the facilities that are needed for underage teams to feed players into the League of Ireland as well as the benefit that comes from just playing football for fun.

‘There have been huge strides in getting more girls to play soccer and the Louth School Girls’ League has been instrumental in that.

‘There are huge numbers of girls and boys soccer teams, some with good facilities, some without and some doing extraordinary work with the clippings of tin. There needs to be a conversation between all the stakeholders, including the Department of Sport and local authorities, about how we move forward and secure the future of soccer’.