2012 Sports Capital Programme - Milebush Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

We are delighted with the announcement on 21 Dec 2012 by the Minister for Sport, Michael Ring, of an allocation of €260,000 towards further development of Milebush Park Regional Centre. This grant will be for the replacement of the Artificial Astroturf Carpet, and other drainage works to be carried out at the facility.

This grant is in recognition of the fine work that has taken place over many years in the development of young players (Boys, Girls, Men and Women) both in Mayo and the entire province of Connaught. It is a further acknowledgement of the fine work being done by the Mayo Football League, Mayo Schoolboys League and the Mayo Women's League in administering and promoting football at a local level, along with helping to secure the progression of the game in the county.

Milebush Park has in excess of 9000 persons/use over any given season, and this proposed development will allow for the continued coaching and development football programmes involving Mayo Academy players, Regional Emerging Talent Programmes, Football for all, and Coach Education along with the various competitions, local and provincial. It will further allow for the very successful Masters League to continue to progress, and will also permit for full competitive league matches to be played when the venue secures a licence through the offices of the Football Association of Ireland. Needless to say that the facilities continue to be used by many clubs, groups and organisations from the locality for training, coaching and pleasure purposes also.

It is of further importance that the facilities be upgraded for the continuation of the F.A.I./FÁS Local Training Initiative (LTI) Scheme for the 24 Students who use the facility on a daily basis under the direction of Leo Tierney and Mickey Feeney. Many of these students continue with their education and then progress on to League of Ireland and cross channel clubs. Care and maintenance of the entire facility at Milebush Park is attended to by the FÁS Community Employment Scheme.

We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to all the various football groups and individuals who supported our application to the Department of Sport and in particular to the F.A.I. for their active involvement in backing this project. We also wish to acknowledge the support for the project by Mayo T.D's, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and Minister Michael Ring. Milebush Park is recognised as one of the outstanding football facilities in the country, and this further development will greatly enhance the growing popularity of the venue for International, Provincial and local fixtures and events. It will also further encourage young boys and girls to take actively participate in sport at an early age.

The entire cost of the project will be in the region of €350,000 and we anticipate that work will commence in late Spring - this will be dependent on being able to accommodate existing football programmes and competitions during that period. We expect that the programme of works will take 2 months to complete but we should have everything in order for the Summer Football Programmes.

Issued on behalf of the Mayo League Community Stadium Club Ltd.

Directors - Joe Butler, Pat Quigley, Tom Kelly.

21th December 2012.