http://armaghgaa.net/football/armagh-gaa-unveils-
This location is barely half a mile from my Ancestral homestead and current country estate! Great boost for somewhat beleaguered Gaels in Portadown and all of North Armagh! Long overdue development in the North of the county
Sounds very promising. To what extent will it be a further boost GAA interest in the northern part of the county?
Where are the upgraded facilites for North Armagh being located?
Well it seems to me with the development of the Crossmaglen ground and Athletic Grounds in South and mid Armagh respectively,the Northern part of the county has been neglected for the last three decades.The run down facilities at Davitt Park in Lurgan,at which I watched many a great county game,including six goals put past Kerry in a NFL game,epitomises the neglect.This new centre in Portadown is a real shot in the arm for the North of the County and will hopefully revive the fortunes of many erstwhile great clubs in the area.
http://gaeliclife.com/2017/08/armagh-centre-excellent-portadown/
Perhaps they can train north Armagh teams to give Cross' a decent game at least.
Quote from: armaghniac on August 02, 2017, 05:04:48 PM
Perh ;)aps they can train north Armagh teams to give Cross' a decent game at least.
Don't start that craic yet...we're all on the one side at the minute... ;)
This is the ideal crowdfunding project - sell a brick or sell a name on the gate for a certain value.
Where exactly is it, out past Drumcree HS?
Quote from: mackers on August 02, 2017, 05:12:51 PM
Quote from: armaghniac on August 02, 2017, 05:04:48 PM
Perh ;)aps they can train north Armagh teams to give Cross' a decent game at least.
Don't start that craic yet...we're all on the one side at the minute... ;)
I'm always a bit uncomfortable being on the same side as Tony Fearon :)
Benny.On out past the school down the Moy Road.Currently a hurling pitch where Tir Na Nog GFC used to play its home matches over 30 years ago,before moving to its current site in Ballyoran.
Any plans or visual images available yet?
What sort of grants will we get for this?
How much will we need to raise?
The headline figures seem reasonable. Was worried we would aim to high and leave ourselves with too much debt. Given the acreage there looks the potential for further phases and upgrades. Again that looks sensible
Will this be where the teams will train? South Armagh men won't be happy.
They're only happy when they have a big chip on their shoulder so this will please them
Quote from: JimStynes on August 02, 2017, 06:44:31 PM
Will this be where the teams will train? South Armagh men won't be happy.
The ones working and studying in Belfast will be delighted
Also plenty of north armagh boys in the training panel. And there was a developable site in portadown. Had planning permission been obtained?
Rumours that Jamie Clarke is opening up a coffee shop in Portadown town centre.
Jesus Portadown wouldn't be a natural fit for a high profile GAA man. Sectarian Shit hole. The Alabama of the North as Gerry used to say.
Quote from: T Fearon on August 02, 2017, 04:56:15 PM
Well it seems to me with the development of the Crossmaglen ground and Athletic Grounds in South and mid Armagh respectively,the Northern part of the county has been neglected for the last three decades.The run down facilities at Davitt Park in Lurgan,at which I watched many a great county game,including six goals put past Kerry in a NFL game,epitomises the neglect.This new centre in Portadown is a real shot in the arm for the North of the County and will hopefully revive the fortunes of many erstwhile great clubs in the area.
When was he last time you were at Davitt Park?
Has been a while.But it was coming down with tumbleweed
Portadown, Mecca and GAA don't naturally belong in the same sentence.
However apart from that it looks like a well-planned project.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 02, 2017, 07:43:03 PM
Jesus Portadown wouldn't be a natural fit for a high profile GAA man. Sectarian Shit hole. The Alabama of the North as Gerry used to say.
It's a Portuguese themed cafe!
Quote from: T Fearon on August 02, 2017, 09:47:01 PM
Has been a while.But it was coming down with tumbleweed
I don't like to praise them but they have done some good work and continue to do so. The place looks a lot better
I'm guessing neither Davitt Park or anywhere else in N Armagh has had the same level of infrastructural support from the County Board than the likes of Crossmaglen in S Armagh or the Athletic Grounds/Callanbridge in mid Armagh. This project is long overdue,but nonetheless welcome
Quote from: T Fearon on August 03, 2017, 12:08:13 AM
I'm guessing neither Davitt Park or anywhere else in N Armagh has had the same level of infrastructural support from the County Board than the likes of Crossmaglen in S Armagh or the Athletic Grounds/Callanbridge in mid Armagh. This project is long overdue,but nonetheless welcome
I'm open to correction but I think a lot, if not all, the work done and being done at Davitt Park has been self funded
Will St Malachys still be the owners?
Any images lads?
Quote from: bennydorano on August 02, 2017, 07:43:03 PM
Jesus Portadown wouldn't be a natural fit for a high profile GAA man. Sectarian Shit hole. The Alabama of the North as Gerry used to say.
I think it is one of the worst towns I ever visited. You can feel the tension that drove the entropy. It is such a miserable place.
Crossmaglen feels totally different.
What relevance has Portadown Town Centre got to this development which will be on the outskirts of the town boundary and the best part of two miles from the town centre?
Portadown Town Centre which has more than a few long established catholic businsses which have existed for generations, is like a lot of other town centres,struggling, particularly with the nearby large retail park, Rushmere. The development of the People's Park at a cost of £5m has brought a lot of people back into that part of the town (for decades considered to be off limits for Protestant/Unionists), Ballina folk come up and are heartily welcomed to the Annual Country Comes to Town Festival, and life in the town is immeasurably better than in the old days,when I had to take to my heels on a few occasions to avoid a hiding.This is another positive development.
Will footballers be able to make their way from the town centre to the facilities by means of their traditional route?
Sure the South Armagh boys can get the train up from Newry for training.
Quote from: T Fearon on August 03, 2017, 05:28:18 PM
What relevance has Portadown Town Centre got to this development which will be on the outskirts of the town boundary and the best part of two miles from the town centre?
Portadown Town Centre which has more than a few long established catholic businsses which have existed for generations, is like a lot of other town centres,struggling, particularly with the nearby large retail park, Rushmere. The development of the People's Park at a cost of £5m has brought a lot of people back into that part of the town (for decades considered to be off limits for Protestant/Unionists), Ballina folk come up and are heartily welcomed to the Annual Country Comes to Town Festival, and life in the town is immeasurably better than in the old days,when I had to take to my heels on a few occasions to avoid a hiding.This is another positive development.
Dunnes closing in the High Street Mall is an awful blow though. It's a disgrace that Rushmere gets to provide free parking but the town centres have to charge for it. It's almost like they're trying to strangle the towns.
Quote from: T Fearon on August 03, 2017, 05:28:18 PM
What relevance has Portadown Town Centre got to this development which will be on the outskirts of the town boundary and the best part of two miles from the town centre?
Portadown Town Centre which has more than a few long established catholic businsses which have existed for generations, is like a lot of other town centres,struggling, particularly with the nearby large retail park, Rushmere. The development of the People's Park at a cost of £5m has brought a lot of people back into that part of the town (for decades considered to be off limits for Protestant/Unionists), Ballina folk come up and are heartily welcomed to the Annual Country Comes to Town Festival, and life in the town is immeasurably better than in the old days,when I had to take to my heels on a few occasions to avoid a hiding.This is another positive development.
You clearly escaped, who was chasing your portly self? Long John Silver? Douglas Bader?
Quote from: tonto1888 on August 03, 2017, 08:44:03 AM
Quote from: T Fearon on August 03, 2017, 12:08:13 AM
I'm guessing neither Davitt Park or anywhere else in N Armagh has had the same level of infrastructural support from the County Board than the likes of Crossmaglen in S Armagh or the Athletic Grounds/Callanbridge in mid Armagh. This project is long overdue,but nonetheless welcome
I'm open to correction but I think a lot, if not all, the work done and being done at Davitt Park has been self funded
Plugging away. New building due to open soon. Looks well. Obviously not up to hosting county games yet.
Is this site wher St Malachy's play? Will they have to move?
Yes.Its also where Tir Na Nog GFC played all their home matches from the mid 70s to mid 80s before Ballyoran was developed.Armagh also played Derry there in a Senior challenge game in 1983 (there was no changing rooms in those days!).I always thought it was a shame to have separate Gaelic football and hurling clubs in Portadown,given the relatively small GAA community.Maybe this will be the catalyst for a merger.
I remember those games from the 70s/8Os and the Derry game well. I would have been there with both my grandas. I also recall playing a few matches there for the school, conversely when I played underage for St Malachys we played our games at the school!
Quote from: T Fearon on August 04, 2017, 07:32:54 PM
Yes.Its also where Tir Na Nog GFC played all their home matches from the mid 70s to mid 80s before Ballyoran was developed.Armagh also played Derry there in a Senior challenge game in 1983 (there was no changing rooms in those days!).I always thought it was a shame to have separate Gaelic football and hurling clubs in Portadown,given the relatively small GAA community.Maybe this will be the catalyst for a merger.
Is Niamh cinn Óir still involved with Tír na nÓg?
Quote from: Rois on August 02, 2017, 05:15:47 PM
This is the ideal crowdfunding project - sell a brick or sell a name on the gate for a certain value.
Tony is sponsoring the gate so anyone who wants to go in will have to get past him first.