23 March 2011
All Antrim gaels will have heard plenty about Dunsilly over the last few years. Many of you will have supported the project through the Saffron Sweeps, attendance at Race Days and fundraising breakfasts, bought the Club Aontroma half time ballots and National League games. Well, Dunsilly is more than a concept and the Centre for Participation is more than a slogan. There has already been plenty of progress on the Dunsilly site and on Saturday 2nd Antrim GAA is hosting an open day on site so that you can see first hand the exciting scheme which is rising from the green field site acquired by the county three years ago.
The Dunsilly Open day will start at 11am and run for approximately two hours.
In developing the project we have overcome a range of stumbling blocks on site, some foreseen and some unexpected. Planning permission was secured and contractors have been working on Dunsilly for more than a year. Two pitches have been sown out and one will be available for use next year. Floodlight bases are in places for all pitches and they have been prepared for perimeter fencing.
The Dunsilly project does not belong to the County Board, nor the inter county teams alone. It is actually a project which will lift the entire county and provide a suite of facilities which will help us prepare teams at all grades, in all codes, to the very best of our ability. The infrastructure at Dunsilly will help Antrim teams take their place at the top of Gaelic Games in the years to come. It belongs to any Antrim fan visiting the website, or reading this article, to your club mates and fellow saffron supporters and to young people who have yet to hear the word ‘Dunsilly’. It really is that significant.
On the 2nd of April I urge you to come along to the Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim, where a presentation on the progress to date will take place at 11am. Transport will then be available to ferry Antrim Gaels and interested supporters to the site just a few minutes away.
Please make sure club is represented on the day. County officials and our professional advisors will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
When? Saturday 2nd April 11am – 1pm.
Where? Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim
What next? Let us know if you intend to come by emailing pro.antrim@gaa.ie
Brendan Mulgrew
County PRO
Directions to Dunsilly Hotel
Directions from Belfast: Take the M2 Motorway from Belfast City Centre heading to "The North". Take the turnoff for Antrim and Ballymena at Junction 1. Follow the direction signs for Antrim (A26). You will see the hotel building on the left hand side at Junction 1. The entrance to the hotel is 200 yards along the A26 on the left hand side. Dunsilly Hotel is close to Belfast International and George Best Airports.
Directions from the North: Ballymena / Coleraine / Portrush Take the A26 main North/South route from Coleraine to Antrim (by passing Ballymena using the M22). Cross over the M2 motorway at Junction 1. You will see the hotel building on the left hand side. The entrance to the hotel is 200 yards along this road on the left hand side.
Directions from the North West: Take the A6 main East / West route from Derry to Belfast. This joins the M22 Motorway at Randalstown (Junction 3). Exit the M22 motorway at Junction 1 and take the A26 towards Antrim. You will see the hotel building on the left hand side at Junction 1. The entrance to the hotel is 200 yards on the left hand side
