St Macartans GAC Trillick made the application in June this year for a grass playing pitch complete with floodlights, dug-outs, fencing, ball nets, paths and groundworks. A consultation period followed and the planning application was brought before the Council’s planning committee in the Townhall recently where it was given the green light. 

The new grass pitch is to be located beside the adjacent existing pitch, on the outskirts of the village located off the Gargadis road.

Councillors heard it is a typical football pitch with path around the edge, flood lights and ball stops at either end of the pitch. 

After listening to the detail of the proposals of the planning application UUP Councillor Alan Rainey proposed its adoption. This was seconded by Councillor Errol Thompson who said, “I would have pleasure in seconding the recommendation.”

Speaking after the decision was delivered Trillick Councillor Mary Garrity, who had declared an interest at the meeting said, “I am chairman of the planning committee and while I could take no part in that decision due to my connections with the club I was delighted. 

“For me this was a historic moment as a huge amount of money has been raised to build a new field. To get here it obviously had to meet planning policy, which it did and I was delighted. 

“Although the planning committee is not political I was very heartened to have it proposed by the Ulster Unionist and delighted the DUP seconded it. 

“That in itself speaks volumes of the Council locally. The sentiment was they recognised the good club we have here locally. 

“These improvements will help the youngsters coming through. The GAA is very much the heart and soul of the parish and the village but I cannot underestimate how it is supported by the whole community and that is something personally that I am very proud of.”