Galway truly needs a person, or organisation, to champion sports in the city and county. For too long now Galway City Council, Galway County Council, politicians and other civic leaders have paid little more than lip service to the provision of adequate sporting facilities, and the required assistance, to sporting clubs and organisations throughout the county. It is my belief that a majority of the main decision-makers in the county have no real understanding of the benefits, both from a health and social perspective, of participation in sports and so treat the issue in an off-hand inconsequential manner, instead prioritising the issues that will be economically beneficial or, will afford them a peaceful working day. The worthy efforts, time and resources spent attracting visitors to the city must be highly commended (the Volvo Stopover being a case-in-point with Deloitte LLP estimating that the stopover was worth 55 million to the local economy [1]). However, the focus of our decision-makers is too far skewed towards attracting visitors to the city at the expense of the local population, and in particular, local sporting organisations and activity.
In 2005 the Economic And Social Research Institute, in conjunction with The Irish Sports Council, released a report on the social significance of sport in Ireland. The key recommendation of the report is that sports policy in Ireland should recognise and support the social aspects of sport, taking account of the social bonding, community involvement and general contribution to the effective functioning of society that they provide [2]. This social dimension of sport has attracted growing attention over the past decade in the context of a new interest in ‘social capital’. The concept of social capital refers to the social networks, norms, values and understandings that facilitate cooperation within or among groups [3]. Some see it simply as a new term for ‘community’.
As a way of emphasising my point on the lack of reasonable facilities I want to bring your attention to the present condition of the majority of playing pitches vested with Galway City Council, particularly soccer. When I visited West Park recently I was transported back nearly 30 years in time. This heavily utilised pitch remains the same as it was when I played schoolboy football, with the massive dip in the centre and a very dangerous and uneven surface. I also, of late, sat and watched West United play at South Park on a surface that would have Roy Keane blowing a gasket. In addition, Crestwood, Millers Lane, Renmore, Cappagh Park, Westside, Oranmore, Jes Pitch (to name just a few that come to mind), all these pitches would fail even the most basic and rudimentary criteria set down for participation in the Mayo Soccer league. A report commissioned for Galway City council some two years ago also focused on the fact that the majority of playing surfaces were far below the required standard for participatory modern sport activity. It’s grossly unfair, therefore, on players and teams who train twice weekly, if not more, to then risk injury every Sunday on sub-standard pitches which are poorly maintained, through no fault of their own (it’s important to note that Galway City Council strictly forbids any work to take place on these leased pitches without their explicit consent).
It’s time for some action, I believe, and its time sport was taken seriously by the powers-that-be. The progressive clubs like Salthill Devon and Mervue Utd are to be applauded for the enormous efforts they have put in to improving their facilities, but the city and county has many other smaller, and just as vital, clubs which allow the various leagues and cups take place each year. They need help also not bureaucratic stonewalling, they need direction and assistance and, more importantly, they need encouragement. Sport is providing a hugely significant social service to the county and it needs tangible and practical support from our local leaders.
[1] Lorna Siggins. (2009) Ocean race stopover in Galway worth €55m to local economy. Irish Times. Dublin. Friday 13th November 2009.
[2] Liam Delaney & Tony Fahy. (2005) Social and Economic Value of Sport in Ireland. Dublin. The Economic And Social Research Institute in conjunction with The Irish Sports Council.
[3] OECD. (2001) The Well-being of Nations. The Role of Human and Social Capital. Paris. OECD.
Tags: Crestwood, Galway, Galway City Council, Irish Sports Council, Mervue, Millers Lane, Salthill Devon, Soccer, West United
