Football club seeks to retain shipping container and toilets

A FOOTBALL club with over 500 members, is campaigning to be allowed to continue to use a shipping container and Portaloo beside the club’s pitches.

Arthur Griffith FC play in Griffeen Valley Park, on the Esker Drive side.

South Dublin County Council say the club is provided with changing facilities and toilets at the pavilion located adjacent to the running track close to Newcastle Road.

However, Arthur Griffith FC Chairman Allan O’Kearney, says this is too far from the Esker side, and impossible to do during a match, which is shorter for children, and trips to the bathroom for an underage player require two guardians.

The council do not provide shipping containers anymore to clubs, but O’Kearney says his club has been asking for facilities since 2010, and installed the containers and Portaloo (€200 per month) at their own expense to cater for members.

“There has been a big demand since 2010 with the explosion of areas like Adamstown and we can only take on so many.

“During a summer camp, we would have a couple of hundred kids, no toilet facilities. Lots of girls are playing. It is far from ideal,” said O’Kearney.

He said an incident at the summer camp led to a child soiling himself, and he was “embarrassed for the player, and the club.”

“We asked the council if we can do something, but they said no containers, and that we are on a list for pavilions, which never happened, and it won’t happen in my lifetime,” said Allan.

“I have lived in Lucan for 46 years.

“They collected money from my Mam in the 70s and 80s for a swimming pool which we still don’t have.”

The club have started a petition on Change.org to retain their container and Portaloo until a solution is identified, and it reached nearly 1,000 signatures as of Tuesday evening.

South Dublin County Council confirmed to The Echo “that Arthur Griffith FC are provided with changing facilities and toilets at the pavilion located adjacent to the running track close to Newcastle Road.

“No permission was given to Arthur Griffith FC for the installation of a container and temporary toilets.

“The council is in communication with the club to arrange for the removal of same as soon as possible.”

Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh (SF) supports the club’s stance and urges council officials to permit the interim facilities, and “find a better long-term solution.”

“The irony of the situation is that up until recently the club had the Portaloo in situ for some considerable time and at their own cost.

“This was being used between games and training to store football equipment – surely, we can do better for our local clubs.

“The new storage facility that has been introduced recently into the park is neatly housed within the council’s own sectioned off compound space already in place,” said Ó Brádaigh.

“The club are at pains to point out the necessity of the storage facility, that now provides a safe place for important club equipment, including a defibrillator.”

O’Kearney, who founded the club, says subscription fees are kept low at €150 compared to other clubs, to reflect the diverse background of members.

“Once costs are covered, we are happy.

“I don’t do this as a business, and submitted all my bank accounts to the council.”

O’Kearney claims that four other clubs are using storage containers at Griffeen Valley Park, and that they were told they won’t get a time slot at the new Airlie Park all-weather pitches, if they continue using the container and Portaloo.