Increased security measures introduced at football club
By Aideen O'Flaherty
DAMAGE to Tallaght Town AFC’s grounds in Carolan Park, Kiltipper, last month was described as “very disappointing” by the club, who have since had to put in increased security measures at the green space.
According to the club, a group of up to 60 young people trespassed onto Carolan Park, and left behind smashed glass bottles and other litter, and holes were dug into the club’s senior pitch.
The bottles and litter left behind on the pitch
Paul Ratcliffe from Tallaght Town AFC told The Echo: “It’s really disappointing. We want Carolan Park to be an open green space for kids.
“It was always a place for kids to go to, to play football. We work hard, as a committee, for the kids in the community, to provide a green space to play football.
“We want them to be vigilant and look after the green space, and just be respectful of the work that we’ve put into it voluntarily.”
The club has 300 members, and the pitch was damaged at a point when the club was preparing for a return to training in the coming weeks, pending updated government guidelines.
Broken bottles
As a result of the damage, they’ve now installed increased security measures to prevent trespassing in Carolan Park.
In a statement on their Facebook page shortly after the pitch was damaged, the club stated: “All entrances to Carolan Park will be fenced off and additional security will be put in place including additional CCTV.
“It’s deeply disappointing that a few small groups of teenagers have forced us to this measure as we never minded local kids playing football on the pitches.”
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