Write a commentThe Trustees and Board of Governors of St. Colman’s College Newry are very pleased to confirm that the sports development at Violet Hill is now underway and scheduled for completion by the beginning of the new academic year.
This development incorporating a full sized floodlit 3G Gaelic pitch, six lane running track and pavilion is a very exciting prospect not only for the College but also for the wider community in Newry and Mourne. The College has been very happy to work on this project with its partners and funders – Sport Northern Ireland, Newry and Mourne District Council and the DSD along with Down County Board. St. Colman’s is looking forward to continue working positively with these groups in the future, with the provision of 21st century facilities that will meet the needs of athletics and other sporting groups in the Newry and Mourne area and beyond. The College is particularly pleased about the potential for this development to impact positively in terms of community involvement and neighbourhood renewal in the Newry area. With the work now underway and the full scale of the development becoming more apparent, all connected with the project appreciate that this is a major and very positive development for St. Colman’s College and the Newry and Mourne area.
Capital Manager at Sport Northern Ireland, Mr Ciaran McGurk stated: “Sport NI is delighted to be involved as the major funder of this flagship project. The project will provide new facilities for a variety of sports, and provides a model of how school sites can be opened up to the whole community for sporting use. A key aim of the Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation 2009-2019 is to secure a collaborative approach towards the development of sports facilities between education, district councils and local communities. The St. Colman’s project represents an excellent example of this partnership approach. We look forward to working with St Colman’s College and the other project partners to see the project reach completion”.
Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA stated: “This is an excellent project, which is a clear example of the benefits of partnership working. The new facilities which will be available within the College grounds will provide an excellent opportunity for the residents of the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area to take part in organised activities, using world class facilities. This will hopefully make a major contribution towards improving the health and wellbeing of the vulnerable members of the community and represents a further example of the DSD’s commitment to tackling disadvantage”.
The Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Michael Murphy stated: “St Colman’s College Management and Trustees have seen the worth in initiating an innovative sports project that will embrace the development of a number of codes and sports, to a level which will guarantee their future both locally and regionally. The menu of facilities that will be on offer for both recreational and competitive sport is impressive and will offer tremendous opportunities for the College and for the young and old of our District to excel in sport for generations to come”.
