FAI chief seeks 'crowning moment' to mark top Mayo club's centenary

The Football Association of Ireland is involved in negotiations with Mayo County Council to help ensure the acquisition of the former swimming pool building in Castlebar for Castlebar Celtic F.C.

The club is in dire need for additional space for dressing rooms for its male and female players and has earmarked the vacant building adjoining Celtic Park as the perfect solution to its problems.

Speaking at the club's centenary celebrations in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, attended by over 400 people, David Courell, the interim chief executive officer of the FAI, said he is closely involved with the club in seeking the transfer of the property.

A motion has been passed by elected members of Castlebar Municipal District to examine the prospect of selling the building to the club for a nominal fee due to its difficulties.

Mr. Courell, a native of the county town, said the FAI had also submitted its support to a formal application by Mayo County Council for a sports capital grant to develop a site at Knockaphunta, Westport Road, with a range of sporting facilities including a dome, athletics track and football pitches to facilitate local soccer, rugby and GAA clubs.

He said the facility would be particularly beneficial to Castlebar Celtic due to an acute shortage of pitches to accommodate all of its adult and underage teams.

In his address, he said Castlebar Celtic was formed in 1924, just three years after the FAI itself.

He paid tribute to the club for its dedicated fostering of the sport in the county town over the past 100 years and thanked everybody who made a contribution over the decades, most notably the founder fathers who faced tremendous challenges.

He stated: "The club has a lot to celebrate, not only the past but also the current day.

"Castlebar Celtic is outperforming on every front with the winning of a 10th Connaught Cup being a major highlight in the 100th year.

"Celtic is nurturing the next generation through its boys and girls academies as well as coaching of teams at every level up to Under-19.

"The club has produced talent that has represented Castlebar Celtic at provincial, national and international level from Noe Baba to Tom King.

"Celtic is connecting with its community through innovative programmes including the FAI's keepfit programme and its engagement on social media.

"The club is a proud holder of the FAI Club Mark which is a measure of quality of governance, management and administration.

"It was impressive to see Celtic among the first wave of clubs in this country to secure the highest star rating and congratulations is due to all those who put in the hard work.

"The crowning moment of the centenary celebrations, however, would be securing the facilities that the club will need to see it through the next 100 years.

"The FAI is committed to addressing the chronic underinvestment in Irish football facilities over many decades.

"But we cannot do it alone. We need clubs to put forward innovative and collaborative solutions and that's what Castlebar Celtic is doing.

"It has been my honour to lend the FAI's support to Celtic's proposal for the acquisition of the old swimming pool site as well as the club's collaborative approach to the Mayo Sports Hub project earmarked for Knockaphunta.

"These project represent a genuine opportunity for Mayo County Council and the Department of Sport not only to celebrate the last 100 years of Castlebar Celtic but to ensure the next 100 years are equally as promising.

"I appeal to all decision makers in Castlebar to fully back these proposals to honour the legacy of this centenary by supporting the club's further growth and sustainability."

At the close of his speech, he remembered former FAI president, the late Pat Quigley and his wife Eleanor, for everything they did for Irish football.

"Pat helped to lay the foundations of football in Castlebar and Mayo. He was very supportive of me when I joined the FAI and he is a genuine loss to football."

He acknowledged the work of Nigel Keady and Nigel Naughton, whom he described as the FAI's 'boots on the grounds' in the region for their work.

Speaking about his own football roots, he said he started out with Snugboro FC and was now happy to say that he is a far better administrator than he was a footballer.

"However, Castlebar Celtic still runs deep in my family with my uncles Noel, Pat and the late Declan Jennings having all been involved in the club over the years.

"I also thank Pat Jennings for his continued support of the club and the fine hospitality shown to everybody attending the gala dinner."

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper and FAI board member Packie Bonner also spoke at the event, recalling many memorable moments and personalities from his playing days at international and club level.