Council’s masterplan for GAA park site will continue despite joining other club

A PREVIOUS masterplan for Liffey Gaels GAA site in Ballyfermot is continuing, despite the club since merging with Drimnagh organisation Good Counsel.

Work started approximately 18 months ago between Dublin City Council and Liffey Gaels with the Sarsfield Road club experiencing difficulties.

Dublin City Council assistant area manager Bruce Philips said the city council started work with Liffey Gaels because “of the position they were in” and they were “experiencing problems at the club”.

Speaking at the recent Dublin South Central area meeting, Mr Philips said the council “went in to help them develop a plan for the club, a development plan for their clubhouse, and also a masterplan for their grounds”.

“But in the meantime, circumstances have changed around Liffey Gaels. They’ve merged in the last few months with another, bigger club in the area, to form Good Counsel-Liffey Gaels. We have had a discussion with them in the last week to discuss how we are going to progress this working group, because it is so important that whatever comes out of this working group, is of value to the merged organisation, because the original purpose of the working group is somewhat changed.”

Mr Philips said the masterplan for the Liffey Gaels site is “continuing in terms of the park development plus surrounding areas”, and the city council have committed to improving “public safety, building in CCTV, also replacing damaged palisade fencing”.

In November 2021, the two clubs announced “a bit of history” with the first AGM of Good Counsel Liffey Gaels GAA and Camogie Club.

A statement at the time by the new club on social media said: “It has been a long journey to get us here, with huge effort and work by both executive committees and club members. We would like to thank Tommie Martin for his work and dedication as Club Chairman of Good Counsel GAA & Camogie Club for the last number of years.

“Tommie has now passed the baton to Gavin Maher who is now the Chairman of the new club. We wish Gavin and the new executive committee the best of luck for the future.

“We have a lot of work to be getting on with and are looking forward to exciting times ahead to promote gaelic games and culture across our communities.”