Minister Storey delivers £300,000 sporting boost for Augher area

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, today attended a sod-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of work on a new 3G pitch near Augher.

Alastair Irskine, Ian McClung, Mark Robinson, Chair Of Fivemiletown District Council, Social Developent Minister Mervyn Storey MLA, Rodney Condell, from the Design Team, James Anderson, Crawford Brothers, and Neil Irvine, Architect

The new £300,000 facility for the Roughan area is being funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD) through the Regional Shared Sports Facility pilot programme and will provide a synthetic football training pitch with flood lights which will be used by local soccer clubs and other sporting organisations within the area.

Minister Storey said: “This project is another excellent example of local volunteers working hard for the benefit of their community. The Fivemiletown District Cultural and Sports Association has lobbied hard for this new facility and have played a key role in making this happen for the people of Augher and further afield.”

The Regional Shared Sports Facility pilot programme comprises seven projects of which Roughan’s 3G pitch is one. The aim of the programme is to enable divided and isolated communities to establish new relations and encourage cross community involvement in sport.

The Minister added: “It has long been acknowledged that sport breaks down barriers and unites people in a common interest. The provision of new amenities such as this 3G pitch provides opportunities for people to come together and participate in sport and avail of healthy activities in a new and modern facility.

“This project has been made possible thanks to the dedication of the Fivemiletown District Cultural and Sports Association and I wish them, and the local community, every success in the future.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department for Social Development provided £297,983 for the project through the Regional Shared Sports Facilities pilot programme
2. The project is being taken forward by the Fivemiletown District Cultural and Sports Association which promotes cultural, sporting, historical and educational events across the rural areas of Augher through to Fivemiletown
3. Funding of £18,000 towards the professional fees associated with this project has been provided by the Association
4. Photos from the Minister's visits can be viewed on the Department's flickr page 
5. For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9494 or email: press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. For out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned

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