Member's statement: Kickhams GAC
Member's statement by Mr Declan Kearney on .
- MLA
- Mr Declan Kearney
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 11 May 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Kickhams GAC
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5523548
Read the official Assembly record
Text
In the 10 miles or so between Antrim town and Moneyglass, there are five Gaelic Athletic Association clubs, and all have won county titles. South-west Antrim is central to GAA life in County Antrim, and one of its beating hearts is Kickhams GAC. The club was founded 102 years ago. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength. All Gaelic games are played at all levels in the club. It has won county titles in all four codes, and, like hundreds of others, I have fond memories of playing football and hurling on McAteer's Field. Back in the day, club facilities were a green tin hut. Then, over 40 years ago, the big hall was built, and 20 years ago, a new pitch, pavilion and Astroturf pitch were put in place, all of which were funded and built by the local community.
Yesterday, more history was made with the opening of the new £1·2 million facilities, including another new pitch, a gym and a shop. All that was also achieved through fundraising, sponsorship and sheer hard work by local people. The day-long programme of celebrations was absolutely fantastic. Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael
, Jarlath Burns, spoke about the ethos and vision of the club. He could have attended the Connacht and Munster football finals, but instead chose to come to Creggan. Yesterday marked the start of a new phase in the club's history. Five generations and hundreds of members, supporters and players gathered for the occasion. The sense of achievement was absolutely palpable. Yesterday Creggan oozed a sense of ambition. Terry Robb, the club chairperson, put it really well when he said, "We have not come this far just to get this far. The new pitch and gym facilities are achievements which bow to the past. A new horizon exists now because we all stand on the shoulders of giants". The new facilities will be a catalyst to secure and inspire the future of Gaelic games in Creggan, and even greater success, I am sure. A new chapter has opened up for the young people, and the not so young, of that small rural community. Future generations now have their field of dreams. Everything about Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is future-focused on our youth and new generations. It is where we all belong, and that is the mission of Kickhams GAC.
391 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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