Marks Celtic forced off home ground as league kicks off
By Mary Dennehy
MARKS Celtic FC has been forced off their grounds due to damage caused by quads, scramblers and cars, a situation that places the training of more than 180 juvenile players in jeopardy.
The Tallaght football club, which has 14 teams across all ages, including 180 junior members ranging from six years to 17, has been experiencing issues with its grounds, Butler McGee Park, for a number of years.
However, things have escalated since Christmas, with the grounds being ripped up by quads, scramblers and cars that are making their way onto the pitches.
A water logging problem on the grounds has also exacerbated the condition of the pitches.
The club has this week described the situation as "heartbreaking" as the league is about to start and they have been forced off their home ground.
Speaking with Echo.ie, Elaine Cummins, the club’s child welfare officer, said: “A lot of the damage happened over Christmas but is continuing, and just today I was walking past and there were two scramblers on the pitches.
“Due to this damage, our home grounds are not playable and I can’t see it been playable anytime soon.
“The fees we have to pay to South Dublin County Council are colossal but I can’t see us getting onto the pitches until March.”
She added: “We have 180 kids using these grounds and now we have to contact neighbouring clubs to see if we can use their facilities, but we will have to pay.
“This damage puts an additional cost on the club and on parents.
“For example, if we have to use astro, every kid has to bring €5 toward the pitches, which puts a lot of pressure on some families.”
The club has reissued its appeal to the council to support them in securing and protecting their home grounds.
Elaine said: “I have walked those pitches in my wellies, but I haven’t seen the council up to walk the pitches.
“These pitches are not reliable and the council are just wasting money putting up little fences that are knocked down by cars and scramblers a few days later.
“We need to put a proper fence around the grounds and secure the grounds for the young members of the club.”
When contacted by Echo.ie, Mary Maguire, senior executive officer with the council’s environment, water and climate change, said: “This issue has been commented on regularly and the council has, as previously advised, initiated attempts to combat the problem such as running 1.2 metre high fencing along the side of the green space areas, provision of bollards etc.
“However, these have not stemmed the actions of a minority who continue to engage in anti-social and menacing behaviour.”
She added: “With specific reference to St Mark’s it is proposed to erect fencing in the coming weeks on the Drumcairn estate side, which will, hopefully, alleviate some of the antisocial activity there.
“Arrangements for procurement of fencing are currently being made.”
“We are also conscious of the water logging at this location, and are mindful that there was ‘above average’ rain fall last month which has affected drainage in Butler McGee Park and indeed the majority of pitches, parks and open space across the county.
“There are plans to use shockwave treatment on the pitch in question to try remedy it, however due to the high water level it is impossible to undertake this just at this time.”
