Renovation of old Gorey sports facility called into question – ‘I don’t see too many kids playing basketball’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The wisdom of investing money into a sport that very few people in Co Wexford play has been questioned by a local county councillor. Speaking at the December meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) Councillor Anthony Donohue noted that the council had recently resurfaced the basketball court at Ashwood Grove in Gorey when perhaps that money could have spent elsewhere.

“I went to Gorey Community School in 1993 and we had eight basketball courts and I don’t think I ever used any of them once, you’d never see any use of them,” said Cllr Donohue. “Could we not build a hurling wall that the kids might actually use? I don’t see too many kids playing basketball, there is a certain cohort that plays it, but a hurling wall or handball alley would be better.”

“That was a tennis court at one time,” said Cllr Joe Sullivan referencing the former iteration of the court at Ashwood.

“No one plays tennis either,” replied Cllr Donohue.

The basketball court, which has been abandoned for many years, is expected to be completed and ready for use by Spring of this year. The works have received €60,000 in funding for Local Sports Partnerships in Wexford under the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund.