*Seanchoill Sports Complex.
A PARTEEN Sports Complex and local men’s facility have been given the go-ahead for a shared timber workshop cabin.
By Dearbhla Parry
Seanchoill Sports Complex applied for planning permission in August to Clare County Council to construct a 24.84sqm steel cabin for timber workshops in conjunction with the existing Men’s Shed Facility.
Planning has been granted, subject to a number of conditions. The cabin will be connected to another 29.71sqm cabin, which will become a meeting room, using a timber canopy. As well as this, they plan to construct a 3,039sqm steel-framed open-sided structure with metal roofing over their existing training facility.
Situated on the Corbally Road in Parteen, the sports complex provides an astro-turf, pitches, an 18-hole footgolf course, a gym, fitness classes, mirrored studios, a playground, and a sauna. Activities are designed specifically for enjoyment across age groups, and if not taking part in the numerous workshops and facilities available, visitors can relax at Maggie’s café with their heated seating.
Only 900 metres away from the Seanchoill Complex is the Parteen Men’s Shed group, who will also be able to avail of the new cabins. They facilitate men to connect while pursuing hobbies, crafts, and creativity in a safe environment. For the past eight years, the 25-membered group have brought together local men by facilitating wood workshops, weekly ‘walk/talk and tea’, baking, darts, barbeques, and raffles. Participants have described the group as “the best thing to happen to this community”.
The group began in 2017 as part of the Healthy Club Project Team with an aim of social inclusion. A former member of Parteen GAA was inspired to begin the group once realising that older members of the club lose connection after their families grow up. The Healthy Club project aims to transform GAA clubs into hubs for health within their communities. As part of this project, the team decided to provide an outlet for men with much free time due to unemployment, ill health, or retirement.
Upon being granted, the applicant, Tom Buckley, was given five conditions to follow. Of these conditions, it was stated that the cabin shall only be used for the proposed uses and for uses in keeping with the overall use of the Sports Complex. It was also highlighted that before the start of the development, a contribution of €4,342.40 shall be paid to The Clare County Council.
Three years ago, the sports complex applied for a change of use of part of the ground floor into a preschool. All other previous developments to the complex occurred from 2014 to 2020 and included the construction of an all-weather eight-lane running track, all-weather sand-based soccer playing field, car park, community playground, safety surfacing, fencing, footpath, and cycle path. This renovated
