Manorcunningham's Lagan Harps FC approved for clubhouse and facility upgrades
Donegal Junior League Club to invest in Orchard Park home
Manorcunningham-based football club, Lagan Harps FC, has obtained planning permission for the construction of an extension to their existing changing rooms and clubhouse at their Orchard Park ground.
Club Secretary, Ernie Pollock, was the listed applicant on behalf of the Donegal Junior League club for the application, which includes a connection to the existing onsite services and all associated site works.
In a letter included in the application prior to the decision, Pollock wrote: “I wish to confirm that Lagan Harps is a non-profit making organisation. All monies raised within the club are used to promote soccer and develop facilities for the youth and adults taking part.
“We currently have an adult men's team and ladies' teams who participate in the Donegal League competitions, as well as numerous underage teams for both boys and girls.
“In July 2024, we officially reopened our redeveloped playing field, Orchard Park. Now the club wishes to carry out a refurbishment and extension to the existing clubhouse/dressing rooms, which were first erected in the 1980s and are now in need of repair and upgrading.”
Donegal County Council granted permission with four conditions, imposed in the interests of orderly development, public health, traffic safety, and to prevent flooding.
The Orchard Park men had been successful on the pitch in recent years, until a setback this summer when the club had to withdraw from the Brian McCormick Premier Division in the Donegal Junior Leagues for the 2025/26 season.
Lagan Harps had won the 2023 Division Two Title before securing promotion to the top tier from Division One last season; however, citing a lack of player availability and the management team stepping away, the club decided to withdraw their Sunday team from the Premier Division and continue to operate in the Saturday league, where their team now competes in Division Three.