Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton backs Buy-A-Brick at Letterkenny Community Centre

Donegal’s senior football goalkeeper Shaun Patton has officially launched a fundraiser for Letterkenny Community Centre

While considerable state funding for the project has been secured, the centre still must raise the balance for the €1.4 million development which comprises a community building with new dressing rooms named in memory of the late Councillor Jim Lynch.

The Buy-A-Brick campaign is set to be a great way of generating funds and enabling people to connect with the project. Special bricks will be available for purchase at €130 for an individual, or €300 for a family, your name or your family name will then appear on the Hall Wall, in return for the donation. 

A native of Letterkenny, Patton knows how important it is to keep moving with the times and providing an ever-increasing range of activities and facilities.

“The centre is a huge part of the community,” he said. “I have been availing of the facilities from when I was a very young age. It has been a huge part of my life growing up it's unbelievable to see how much has changed. It's great to see this stand and changing rooms coming it is very needed for the place it's great to see. The centre always keeps up with the times, always progressing.” 

Liam O’Donnell, centre manager, said: “Shaun Patton is the man as he has always used the centre, having done gymnastics here since he was four and he always was involved in the programme,”  

The new community building, with two new state-of-the-art dressing rooms, is beside the existing astroturf (4G) playing pitch which has been a huge success since it was completed in 2019. 

Funding for the project is coming from the Minister for Rural and Community Development (€300,000), from the Community Centre Investment Fund, and a further €100,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund, with Donegal County Council providing a grant of €200,000. The Community Centre is financing the rest of the balance through an AIB Loan and a Western Development Commission loan.

“This is a fantastic initiative, there has always been a great committee in this community centre,” Councillor Donal Coyle said. “I wish this project all of the success, from a council perspective we will do our best to support any initiative from the community centre.”