Enniscorthy’s Australian city sister reveals plans for £30m GAA centre
Wexford PeopleA delegation from Blacktown City Council in Australia has revealed plans for a $30m (AUD) GAA centre as it seeks to capitalise on the growing population of the sport Down Under. Blacktown, which is twinned with Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, is located in Western Sydney and has a population of approximately 460,000.
Blacktown has strong historical ties with Co Wexford and in 1999 it entered into a sister city arrangement with Enniscorthy. As a result, delegations from both towns have travelled back and forth over the years, hosting civic receptions and strengthening economic links between the regions.
A delegation from Blacktown City Council (BCC) attended the July meeting of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD) where they revealed that the new GAA centre was just one of many expensive projects planned in the region.
“We just passed our first billion dollar budget for 2026/27,” said a member of the BCC. “That’s based on some of the infrastructure projects we’ll be doing in the next year. We received a grant from the State government of €161m for seven infrastructure projects, including a new administration building; the old one will be knocked down, and the new one will cost €207m.”
On the new GAA facility, the BCC said it will feature a purpose-built clubhouse, world-class playing surface, irrigation, drainage, lighting, pathways, car parking, and will be a “massive facility”.
Perhaps hoping for a break from the ritual disappointment of the Leinster Championship, Cathaoirleach Pat Kehoe suggested that teams from Wexford GAA could travel to Blacktown for some inaugural fixtures when the centre was complete.