In Swords, expected impact of MetroLink spotlights a shortage of pitches

Just north of Swords, the R132 regional road is flanked by pitches.

To the east, in Lissenhall, there is an astroturf pitch and Lawless Memorial Park, the homeground of Fingallians GAA club.

To the west, there are four more pitches – two for football, two for GAA – that occupy the length of Balheary Park, with another GAA pitch nearby, separated by the Ward River, and used by Fingallians’ local rivals, St Colmcille’s.

The pitches in Balheary Park are provided to Fingallians by Fingal County Council, said Brendan McGrath, a member of the club’s board, on Tuesday. “And there are satellite pitches we’ve access to.”

Those include one out in Millers Glen, he says, as well as Kettles Park and Holywell Park, according to the club’s website.

But as the town grows, even those may not be enough because the club has over 2,000 members with 1,500 players, he says. “We’re a big huge club. Over 80 teams.”

The big challenge coming around the corner is MetroLink, the metro line, developed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which An Coimisiún Pleanála approved on 2 October.

The route is from Charlemont, in the south inner-city, to a new Seatown Station, south of the club’s grounds, and then the terminus, Estuary Station, north of the grounds. 

Between these two stations, the route will be built on the edge of Balheary Park, which would impact the playability of these pitches during the construction phase.

The club will lose access to the smaller of its two pitches in the park during this period, according to TII.

McGrath, of Fingallians, says it’s important that the club has an alternative pitch during the construction phase. “If pitches go away for 18 months, you could have a huge drop off in members.”

A spokesperson for TII said they are continuing to work closely with the club and council, who own Balheary Park, to find a suitable alternative for the second pitch, and that they met with the club in October to discuss possible options.

McGrath says he has been engaging with councillors to make sure that arrangement is secured soon.

Works aren’t expected to start until 2027, he says. “But we’re getting to the point where, if we had to sow a pitch, they’d need to be sowing that grass now to make sure it’s mature enough.”

All of this shines a light on the urgency to increase the number of playing pitches in the Swords area, says Fine Gael Councillor Luke Corkery. “A sports hub would really satisfy that need.”

A recent audit of sporting facilities in Fingal, prepared for the council by KPMG Future Analytics, identified a need for nine additional pitches in the Swords area by 2029.

Get everyone in a room

Local councillors were keen to discuss how MetroLink works would impact Fingallians at a meeting of the Balbriggan/Rush-Lusk/Swords Area Committee meeting on Thursday.

It is wonderful that the metro is coming to Swords, said independent Councillor Cathal Boland. “But we need to make sure the social infrastructure within the community is maintained and protected.”

Boland and Sinn Féin Councillor John Smyth both introduced similar motions, asking that Fingal County Council’s chief executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, organise a meeting between elected representatives and Fingallians.

This discussion would help to develop short- and long-term plans for the club, and to provide adequate playing pitches in the event of the likely changes to the facilities currently available to them in Balheary, Smyth’s motion said.

It would also act as an opportunity to hear from the club on their suggestions to minimise the impact of works on the pitches, Boland’s said.

The club is going to be seriously impacted by the MetroLink construction works, Boland told the meeting. “It is important that we do what we can to facilitate the continuance of the club with ensuring that there is adequate provision made for alternative playing pitches.”

It isn’t some small sectoral interest, he said. “It is a fundamental part of sporting life in Fingal. But particularly in Swords.”

Any GAA club that has been in existence since 1884, the year Fingallians was established, needs to be respected as this MetroLink comes down the line, said Smyth. “We need to ensure all clubs don’t lose out from the development.”

Swords is going to be dramatically changed by the MetroLink, said Sinn Féin Councillor Malachy Quinn. “So let’s be supportive of the local clubs as well.”

The council appreciates the concerns of the club and their desires to meet with officials, said Gene Griffin, a senior executive officer in the council’s Community Department.

The council wants to engage with the club, with a deputation meeting being one possible avenue, although there isn’t an available slot for this particular kind of sit-down until next February, Griffin said.

The council would be able to provide clearer information on the duration of any disruptions at that meeting, said Gemma Carr, senior executive parks and landscape officer. “But there isn’t a definite timeline on when these works are going to happen at this moment.”

Addressing demand

Swords is growing, and the MetroLink is only going to bring more people into the town, so it is vitally important that the needs of clubs like Fingallians are factored into this change, says McGrath, the club board member. 

“How do we future proof Fingallians with the growth of Swords?” he asks.

At the area committee meeting, Corkery, the Fine Gael councillor, pointed to the recent sports facilities audit, as evidence of the need for more pitches in the Swords area – and in Fingal more broadly. 

The audit  found multiple instances of clubs and facilities across the county that are at capacity, which is “hampering the growth potential of clubs”.

The council could increase the number of playable hours and days on existing pitches by putting in lighting, and upgrading grass pitches to all-weather facilities, it said.

This is the plan for the northern GAA pitch in Balheary Park, which TII says will be reduced in size a bit as part of the MetroLink construction, but will get an all-weather surface and flood lighting.

A spokesperson for TII said on Tuesday said the all-weather pitch will also include ball-stop netting. “The adjacent pitch will be converted into a training pitch which is suitable as a multi-use games area.”

But, in the long-run, the best outcome for Swords would be a new sports hub, says Corkery.

In April, Corkery tabled a motion proposing that the council develop one in anticipation of Fingallians’ temporary loss of Balheary Park, as well as the fact that the Swords Rugby Club lacks a permanent home.

“They are playing on a pitch that is used by many other tenants,” said Corkery on Tuesday.

Kevin Halpenny, the council’s senior parks and landscape officer, said the council is in the process of drafting a development plan for the Ward River Regional Park, and that would include an expanded sports hub at Swords Manor.