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Two former Head Pupils of Newry High School have joined the growing call for investment in upgraded outdoor sporting facilities at their former school. Joanne Patterson and Councillor David Taylor, who served as Head Girl and Head Boy, say they want current and future generations of pupils to have access to the sporting opportunities they themselves benefited from.
Their support comes amid continuing concern over the lack of suitable outdoor sporting provision at Newry High School. In a recent letter to the Department of Education, the school's Board of Governors highlighted that pupils remain without access to a suitable grass or synthetic pitch and rely instead on two gravel pitches dating from the 1960s, describing the situation as a longstanding inequality requiring urgent action.
Colin Whiteside, Chair of the Board of Governors, said the need for appropriate facilities had existed for far too long. "For over a decade, Newry High School has worked to secure adequate playing facilities. The fact that our pupils continue to rely on two gravel pitches dating from the 1960s is simply not acceptable for the delivery of a modern Physical Education curriculum," he said. Whiteside added that the school had secured planning permission, completed a business case and developed a community plan, yet the project had repeatedly stalled, and he called for a renewed and urgent commitment to delivering appropriate outdoor sporting facilities for pupils and the wider community.
David Taylor said Newry High School had played an important part in his own development, during which he embraced sporting opportunities including hockey and football that helped build confidence, teamwork and discipline. "I want the young people attending the school today, and those who will attend in the future, to have the same opportunities," he said, adding that the school was also a vital resource for local sporting organisations that rely on access to its facilities.
Joanne Patterson, who is also Chairperson of the local Carnbane Girls Youth League Sub-Committee, said her support reflected her experience as a parent as well as a former pupil. "Through my involvement with the Carnbane Girls Youth League, I have also seen first-hand the enormous demand for suitable and accessible sporting facilities, particularly for girls and young women," she said, adding that investment in improved outdoor facilities would be transformational and would strengthen the school's role as a community hub.
The Irish Football Association has also backed the case for enhanced football facilities at the school, citing its role in delivering Shooting Stars sessions, McDonald's Fun Football programmes, Carnbane Girls Youth League fixtures and Irish FA coach education activity. Lauren Moore, Women's Football Development Manager at the Irish Football Association, said the organisation fully supported the case for facility development at Newry High School. "The school has demonstrated a strong commitment to football development, community engagement, inclusion and widening participation," she said, adding that enhanced facilities would unlock significant opportunities for participation growth, particularly within the female game.
For Patterson and Taylor, the issue is a personal one, with both saying the next generation of pupils should have access to facilities that reflect the needs of a modern school and can serve the wider local community for years to come.
