The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, officially opened the ‘Peace Link’ in County Monaghan. Pictured (from left) are Ava McNeilly from Newtownbutler, Sabina Higgins, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, Michael McGaughey from Clones and Kathleen Cassidy from the Clones Erne East Sports Partnership. Picture: Michael Cooper
A NEW sports complex to cater for people in the east Fermanagh and north Monaghan area has been opened by President Michael D Higgins.
The €7.8m project has transformed a fourteen acre site at Liseggerton in Clones into a state-of-the-art multi-use sports and recreational facility that will be able to host major sporting competitions.
The centre is expected to cater for the Fermanagh/Monaghan border area, including Roslea and Newtownbutler, and has been given the name ‘Peace Link’ following an extensive public consultation.
The facility incorporates a 1,285 m2 sports building with indoor basketball court; an eight lane, 400m long athletics track and field area; a multi-purpose full size playing pitch which can be used for gaelic football, rugby, soccer, cricket, hurling and camogie; a fully-equipped indoor gym as well as extensive car and coach parking facilities.
Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Community and local government.
Commenting on the work of the project partners, Declan McKernan, chairman of the Clones Erne East Sports Partnership CEESP, said: “This facility represents the collective efforts of a number of different people and organisations, which over the past few years, have devoted a huge amount of time and energy in bringing it to a successful conclusion. The project was itself created out of a collective vision and desire to create a better life for local people through the unifying power of sport.
“I am very proud of what has been achieved and look forward to seeing at first hand the impact that the Peace Link will have for many years to come,” he continued.
In order to ensure that the sports complex is used and enjoyed equally, by all sections of the community, the project contains a ‘Building Relations through Sport Programme’, designed to tackle issues associated with sectarianism and racism.
A full-time integrated sports officer has been recruited to deliver upon the programme through the co-ordination of a series of events and initiatives that will ensure cross-community usage and participation.
Congratulating all of those involved in the project Bert Johnson, chairman of Fermanagh District Council, said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all of the individuals and organisations involved in the design and construction of this new facility. Projects of this type require a huge level of commitment and I would applaud the efforts of the CEESP and the funders in helping it to become a reality.
“I have no doubt that the Peace Link will help to connect people living in Fermanagh and Monaghan and build strong foundations for mutual respect and tolerance for many years to come,” he continued.
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