Government gives €250k to New York club

Children of Irish heritage all over New York will benefit from major Irish Government funding for the Shannon Gaels, according to club chairman Sean Price.

The Kerry native was speaking after it was confirmed yesterday that the Queens-based GAA club would avail of a €250,000 grant to assist with the development of an underage playing field in Frank Golden Park in the College Point section of the borough.

“It means a great deal to us,” Price told the Irish Examiner. “But what we can’t forget either is how big it is for the New York Irish community in general.

“Kids of Irish immigrants will be able to keep the GAA alive in this city. I’m not just talking about Shannon Gaels but this will be great for the other clubs like Celtics, St Barnabas and Rockland.

“We’ll be upgrading from a substandard pitch to a state-of-the-art facility and great credit is due to the field committee, which is led by Collie Mathers and also to the Irish consulate here who have been very supportive throughout this part of the venture.

“In a situation like this, you can’t thank enough people. We’ve had great assistance from local politicians and I’ve had a lot of contact from people back home. It’s been all hugely positive. We’re hoping to break ground in May or June and begin phase one of this development.

“We very much believe that by putting effort into our youth, the entire community will benefit and that’s what the Irish Government has recognised also.”

In making the announcement yesterday, Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan TD, said the funding will benefit the younger Shannon Gaels members and encourage their ongoing participation in Gaelic games.

“This grant recognises the strong links between GAA clubs abroad and the Irish communities in which they are based,” Deenihan added.

“I also welcome and appreciate the strong support this initiative received at community and city levels in New York City.”

Welcoming the announcement, President of the GAA, Liam O’Neill said: “We are delighted with the news that Minister Deenihan and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have confirmed very generous funding for the ambitious Shannon Gaels project in New York.

“It is no exaggeration to say that it is a remarkable project, one which is also receiving the support of the GAA centrally, and it will bring the club’s ambitions to have a fully developed home of their own for the ongoing development of Gaelic games a step closer to reality.”

The Shannon Gaels GAA club was set up in Queens in 2002 and last year entered its first minor team into local competition.