Calls to further reduce the cost of using the football pitch at Gorey Town Park

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Having spent much of last winter fighting to reduce the rates for clubs using the football pitch at Gorey Town Park, Sinn Féin councillor Craig Doyle has resumed his campaign as he seeks to make the facility as affordable as possible.

In November 2025 the cost of hiring the pitch was reduced from €40 per hour (with an additional €20 to use the dressing rooms) to €30 per hour (plus €5 for the dressing rooms) at Cllr Doyle’s request. However, while this reduction was welcomed it did not go far enough.

And at the June meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD), Cllr Doyle submitted a motion in which he asked for the cost to be reduced yet further as part of Wexford County Council’s (WCC) upcoming annual budget.

“That the Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District agree, as part of the preparation of the 2027 budget, to reduce the fee for the rental of the pitch at Gorey Town Park to €20 per hour. An early decision would provide certainty to local clubs, allowing them to determine whether it will be financially feasible to make use of the facilities and, in turn, whether they can accommodate increased numbers of new players and continue to expand participation in sport within the district.

“Reducing the hourly charge to €20 would help ensure that these publicly funded facilities are accessible and affordable for the widest possible range of clubs and participants, thereby supporting community wellbeing and encouraging greater involvement in sport among young people and adults alike.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Darragh McDonald who pointed out that there were other facilities in the district which the council subsidises and similar could be done with the pitch at the town park.

“It’s important this results in fair usage, we don’t want to see anyone use it as their home pitch,” he added. “We should be supporting this, it would cost us €10,000 a year to pay for the upkeep of the pitch and I think we can find that.”

Last year, director of services Liz Hore estimated that it costs WCC between €7,000-€10,000 to maintain the pitch annually and that, with the newly agreed rates, approximately €7,000 would be recouped from clubs using the pitch.

Cllr Doyle’s motion will now be forwarded to the chief executive of WCC for his consideration.

Meanwhile, Cllr Nicky Boland has asked whether an autism swing could be installed in the park for visiting families.

In response, district manager Anita McLoughlin said every effort was being made to ensure Gorey was as accessible as possible for everyone.

“We are already working to make Gorey as accessible as possible, and we are putting a communication board in the Market House,” she said. “We will look into a swing. It would be a good addition.”