136-year-old football club in Mayo gets the green light for a new major development
Ballinrobe Town Association Football Club (AFC) has secured planning permission for a much-needed development of new sporting facilities for the club, marking a significant milestone in its 136-year history.
Founded in 1888, the club has been a cornerstone of the south Mayo community across generations. Today, Ballinrobe Town AFC has over 450 players across 25 teams. This growth has seen the club outgrow its existing facilities.
Currently, the club relies on a single pitch at The Green, rents a smaller astro pitch, and also uses a small grass pitch owned by Ballinrobe Community School.
The club’s home is shared with Ballinrobe Rugby Club, the local Athletics Club, and a canalside walk. The pitch is no longer able to meet demand, and there is no room for expansion on the current site.
The planned development will see three new pitches being built: a full-sized grass pitch, a full-sized 4G all-weather astro pitch, and a nine-a-side 3G all-weather astro pitch. These facilities are designed to provide year-round playing opportunities for all age groups and levels of competition.
The Executive Committee of Ballinrobe Town AFC stated in their proposal that, given the club's current membership, it was essential to have space for three pitches, to help ensure that training sessions and matches can go ahead without any conflict of time or space.
The development will also involve the demolition of existing agricultural sheds and the construction of a modern 370m2 clubhouse. The plan states that the clubhouse has been designed according to Football Association Ireland guidelines. It ensures that the building is energy-efficient, weather-smart and has kept costs in mind.
In addition, the plans will add 93 car parking spaces and 50 cycle parking spaces, ensuring the new site can accommodate a large numbers of players, supporters, and visitors.
Access to the proposed 2.7 hectare site will be available from the Neale Road (R334). The area is adjacent to and shares access with the recently developed Milehill Cemetery. Both of these developments are adjacent to the R334, located roughly 1.5km south of Ballinrobe and 4km north of The Neale Village.
All environmental elements were considered as part of the proposal. The project includes a tertiary wastewater treatment system with infiltration and treatment areas, as well as comprehensive landscaping, boundary treatments, and other ancillary works and services.
Planning permission was granted subject to 13 conditions, which the club will be required to meet as the development progresses.
The Executive Committee stated that this development will help to provide long-term facilities for the community of Ballinrobe. They noted that the proposal comes from the grassroots, is a non-profit, and will be funded, built, and operated by a cohort of unpaid volunteers.
The green light for Ballinrobe Town AFC’s new facilities marks a major step forward for sport and community life in south Mayo. It ensures the club can meet the growing demand and continue serving as a suitable sporting space for local people of all ages.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.