Football Club unveil plans to develop a €500,000 facility
By Éadaoin Ní Flaithearta
PLANS for a two-storey clubhouse, at a cost of approximately €500k, for Kilnamanagh AFC have been lodged, and the club hopes the proposed facility will bring the club “even further”.
The football club has over 500 members, and its senior side and women’s teams have grown substantially over the years.
Kilnamanagh Football Club official Paddy Ennis on the site in Ned Kelly Park
However, a lack of facilities has meant that their teams had to share toilets with the local community centre.
The club recently submitted a planning application to South Dublin County Council for the proposed clubhouse, which is to include dressing rooms, toilets, a referee room, a club shop, a treatment room, and an external strength and conditioning area.
The two-storey building is to be adjacent to the club’s all-weather pitch in Ned Kelly Park in Kilnamanagh.
Conor Kenna, Director of Football of Kilnamanagh AFC, told The Echo: “I’m in the club two years now, and I noticed we didn’t have a hub or our own facilities.
“It was the aim of the committee and the members to get a clubhouse.
An artist impression of the proposed development
“We’re trying to build the club up, and the numbers have been going up every year.”
The club recently launched a fundraiser, called the Rockets Home Run, for the development of the clubhouse, and participants – who don’t have to be club members – are invited to donate a minimum of €5 and run, scoot, cycle or walk as much as they can throughout the month of March.
At the time of going to print, a combined total of 4,700kms has been completed for the fundraiser, and there’s been some healthy rivalry among the club’s teams.
The club has also applied for a Club Mark, which recognises best practice in local football clubs, from the FAI.
“Kilnamanagh AFC is a growing football club,” added Mr Kenna.
“I think a clubhouse is the next stage, to bring us on even further.
“And having a state-of-the-art clubhouse will attract even more players.”
A decision on the club’s planning application for the clubhouse is due from the council by April 22.
Sign-ups for the fundraiser are being accepted at KAFC1
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