Historic day as city’s only hurling club opens new £700k clubhouse

The city’s only hurling and camogie club, Na Magha, has officially opened its new clubhouse at the club’s base at Ballyarnett.

The opening marked the culmination of many years of effort from the small group of people behind the club.

The £700,000 state-of-the-art facility includes changing rooms, showers, a lift, kitchen and function room.

Special guests at Saturday’s event included Michael Hasson, chairman of the Ulster GAA council, Derry GAA chief Brian Smith, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Derry bishops Donal McKeown and Ken Goode.

For years, Na Magha played their matches at the Templemore Sports Complex, but they finally found a home in Ballyarnett in 2010, where a new pitch was built thanks to a £500,000 grant from the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

Na Magha chairman Feargal McNicholl heralded the completion of the new pavillion as a “bright, brand new day” for hurling and camogie in Derry.

He added: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see how much we’ve grown. With the building of the pitch five years ago we were finally given a home, and now with the new clubhouse we have a roof over our heads as well.”

Martin McGuinness paid tribute to those involved in the local club.

“I was here six years ago when the new pitch was opened, and I’m absolutely delighted to be here again. Amelia Earhart would be very proud of what has happened here.

“As a Gael myself, I’m delighted to see the growth of GAA in our city.

“I’m a Derry City fan, and played soccer myself, but the GAA has been very much in the shadows of soccer here and the emergence of the GAA bodes very well for the city.”

Pictured at the opening ere, from left, Michael Hasson, Ulster President, GAC, Feargal McNicholl, Club Chairman, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA, Brian Smith, County Chairman, and Sean Mellon, founding member of Na Magha.