300 sports club volunteers gather for park clean-up

HUNDREDS of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in at a community clean-up of their local park, reports Hayden Moore.

There is a real buzz in the communities surrounding Marks Celtic FC and St Mark’s GAA Club after almost 300 volunteers flocked to Butler McGee Park this week for a giant litter pick.

Supported by South Dublin County Sports Partnership, litter pickers, bags and gloves were provided for the volunteers on a day of great community activism.

“It was great to see so many people from the parish coming together for the community clean-up day,” chairperson of St Mark’s GAA Club, Gary Mahon, told The Echo.

“There was a great sense of community and great community spirit on the day.

“The parish and surrounding community really came together and took ownership of the field.

“It’s really nice to have Butler and McGee Park looking so well and to give us the opportunity to showcase the parish to travelling teams in a positive light.”

Members of Marks Celtic at the clean-up on Saturday. Photos Hayden Moore

Hundreds of bags of rubbish were removed from the field, which were later collect by South Dublin County Council.

Following the big clean-up, members of the aforementioned clubs returned to their clubhouses to enjoy refreshments and family fun.

In Marks Celtic, there was bouncy castles and chipper food for the more than 180 volunteers that attended on their side of the park.

“It went very well and the turnout was brilliant,” Marks Celtic treasurer, Larry Brophy, told The Echo.

“The amount of parents and young children that were out was way more than we could have expected and we’re delighted with the turnout.

“We’re all for getting the park improved, I’ve been involved in recent years about the fencing around the park and what we want is for the park to be an actual park, not just a field.

“If you were to walk down now, it feels like an actual park as opposed to a field and this clean-up is definitely progression.

“We’re far from finished, there is plenty of work to do but this was definitely a step in the right direction.

“It was truly fantastic to see so many people out taking responsibility and ownership of what is Butler McGee Park.

“The GAA Club and ourselves have been working on the park over the years and so have the residents in Fettercairn, they’re very important in this progression.”