Anger at ‘attack on community and particularly the volunteers’

ST KEVIN’S Killian’s GAA Club said the vandalism of its pitch in Kilnamanagh this week was “unfortunate, annoying and preventable”.

The pitch was damaged on Tuesday evening, with tyre tracks being embedded into the pitch and rendering it unplayable.

In a statement posted on Facebook, St Kevin’s Killian’s GAA Club expressed their disappointment and frustration at the situation.

“It’s unfortunate, annoying and preventable that we awake again this morning to vandalism to our pitches,” they wrote.

“As a club, we endeavour to provide games in a fun environment for our children and community.

“However, when random acts of vandalism like this occur it means our pitches will be out of action for months.

“We adhere to council restrictions and keep off the pitch as required but [it] seems that doesn’t apply to these mindless idiots! As a result, it’s the community, kids and players that suffer!”

The damage to the pitch has “vexed” the local community, according to local councillors Charlie O’Connor (FF) and Mick Duff (Ind) who released a joint statement about it.

“We strongly condemn the vandalism caused in the GAA pitch in Kilnamanagh, which was apparently caused by quads,” they stated.

“It has really upset the local community and it’s clearly, as far as we’re concerned, an attack on the community and particularly the volunteers from St Kevin’s Killian’s who put in so much work.

“Both of us this morning [Wednesday] have gotten calls from all over Kilnamanagh and people are really vexed about this. It’s an absolute disgrace.

“If anybody in the community has any information that could out the people that did this, we’d ask them to contact the guards directly.”

Anyone with information can contact Tallaght Garda Station on (01) 666 6000.