Campaign to highlight lack of sporting facilities in 'neglected' East Cork towns

Pressure on these clubs is only going to increase as the population is set to rocket in the Midleton and Carrigtwohill areas, in particular

The campaign is being spearheaded by such clubs as the East Cork Athletic Club which has 2,150 members, Midleton AFC which has 1,300 members and the Imokilly Ladies Football and Camogie Clubs which boast 3,600 members. File photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Multiple sporting organisations in East Cork are mounting a joint campaign to highlight the dearth of community sporting facilities, with several having to rely on the goodwill of other clubs to provide them with temporary training and match venues.

Many clubs currently don’t have their own facilities and are urging Cork County Council to help them purchase land, especially as the population is set to rocket in the Midleton and Carrigtwohill areas.

Pressure on these clubs is only going to increase as the County Development Plan (CDP) predicts the two towns will have a combined population of 34,000 in just two years’ time and nearly 43,000 from 2034.

The campaign is being spearheaded by such clubs as the East Cork Athletic Club which has 2,150 members, Midleton AFC which has 1,300 members and the Imokilly Ladies Football and Camogie Clubs which boast 3,600 members.

Mark Walsh, speaking on behalf of the collaborative campaign, said the combined clubs and others need a site of between 20 and 30 acres to facilitate them and they’ve identified a suitable location near Midleton which is currently zoned for agricultural but which the landowner is prepared to sell for such a venture.

Mr Walsh said there is an urgency in the ongoing review of the CDP to acknowledge and zone land for such facilities in the region.

“We’ve made numerous presentations to county council officials about this. The more housing being created in the area puts an even greater need for such facilities. This campaign is to highlight these deficiencies. 

"Multiple sporting groups are crying out for land. Ideally, they’d like a running track, multiple pitches, tennis courts, etc and in time a swimming pool,” Mr Walsh said.

“Midleton AFC has been tirelessly working to acquire more land to accommodate their ever-growing numbers and dire need for additional pitches. 

"Imokilly ladies’ football and camogie, catering for several hundred girls and women, have no home grounds for training or matches and are desperately seeking green space. These are just a few examples,” he added.

Mr Walsh said the council has assisted land purchases in much smaller towns for community sporting facilities and needs to get to grips with the dearth of them in East Cork quickly because it is being targeted as the biggest growth area in the county.

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“While many improvements have been made in recent years, especially in the areas of walkways, cycleways and greenways, no space has been earmarked or allocated specifically for community sporting outlets, such as playing fields, athletics facilities and other sporting pursuits, essential to the health and wellbeing of a growing population across all age profiles,” Mr Walsh said.

“The lack of these in East Cork’s largest towns flies in the face of stated Government policy. 

"Unfortunately, the evidence would indicate that East Cork is being neglected in terms of the provision of community-based sporting facilities, while house-building and the resultant population growth continues at fever-pitch, without the foresight to provide the essential sporting outlets and opportunities so badly needed, Mr Walsh said.