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3rd May 2018
12:32pm BST
School children near GAA club, Na Fianna have been holding massive protests regarding Dublin's new €3bn Metrolink which was unveiled just over a month ago with plans for 15 brand new stations.
The project - which was expected to open in 2027 and run from Sandyford to Swords - could now be facing a big and unwanted change which was the last thing that the organisers wanted.
The current proposal would obstruct a number of schools and sports clubs that are saying that the current plans for Dublin's first underground rail line would impact negatively on them.
Na Fianna player, Johnny Cooper said at the time that: "The National Transport Authority are forgetting to mention that they are taking our main GAA pitch and two all weather pitches.
"We cater for 125 teams and have over 3,500 people from the community engaged. This project is supposed to bring people together not force us apart."
It would also impact on Home Farm and two schools in the area whose students have not taken the decision lying down.
Instead, the students from the two schools - Scoil Mobhí and Scoil Chaitríonaformed human chains on the front pitch and circles to illustrate the size of the Metro's proposed boring holes on their pitch.
Powerful stuff from such young people.
Students at two schools around na Fianna form two circles to illustrate size of Metro boring holes on their pitch pic.twitter.com/zwfV8kDeYI
— Kevin Purcell (@KevinPurcell_) May 3, 2018
Video credit: Kevin Purcell and FM104
This comes just a couples of days after Dublin's dream Dart underground was also hit with a crushing blow.
In a statement released on the club's website after the announcement last month, chairman Cormac Ó Donnchú outlined the tough times that lie ahead for the club if they lose their grounds.
"A Chairde,
"To follow on from yesterday’s communication, you may have seen that the new Metro Link’s Emerging Preferred Route (EPR) was made public at today’s media launch.
"At a meeting in Mobhi Road on Tuesday night 20th March, members of the Na Fianna Club Executive were advised by representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that the construction programme for the proposed Metro Link (formerly known as Metro North and due to commence in 2020), would involve the requisition of the front pitch and both all-weather pitches on Mobhi Road as well as Home Farm soccer pitch. The front pitch and both all-weather pitches as we currently now know them would become a Tunnel Boring Depot for the duration of the Metro Link construction project, with a permanent underground station being situated under Mobhi Road upon completion.
"The first contact that the Club had with TII was through a phone call received at approximately 4.30pm on Friday 16th March, bank holiday weekend. This was the first time the Club was alerted that the new Metro Project would have any implication for the Club. TII requested the meeting, mentioned above, where we were informed of the severe impact the proposed project would have on Na Fianna’s home.
"The Club is naturally very concerned and alarmed with this news. We are also deeply disappointed by the lack of respect afforded that a decision of this magnitude was advised to CLG Na Fianna, less than 48 hours prior to the formal Government announcement.
"The physical impact of this proposal on Na Fianna as we currently understand it will be;
"Though significant, this pales in comparison to the potential irreparable damage to a generation of young Na Fianna members through having the heart and soul of our Club ripped out. Not to mention the inevitable fall-off in playing numbers among all age groups, through being deprived of suitable training and playing facilities.
"The Executive Committee are fully aware that this development has huge implications for CLG Na Fianna and its members. CLG Na Fianna is currently examining the plans in detail, engaging with important stakeholders and exploring a range of possible actions. We would encourage all members to access the website (www.metrolink.ie), view the documents and to inform themselves as much as possible. A Members’ Information evening will be arranged in the coming weeks subject to the full facts of the proposal being examined and a suitable venue sourced, and out of this a strong unified approach will be adopted. Ní neart go cur le chéile.
"The GAA family, including Croke Park and Dublin GAA have committed to full support for Na Fianna and its members.
"We have been through tough times together before. From our founding members’ first struggles to establish the Club in the face of overwhelming adversity, from the rebuilding of our clubhouse after its destruction, and the struggles we have overcome to build a state of the art facility, and not only sustain it, but have it as the beating heart of the community. We have been through tough times before, we will rise to this challenge and come through this together.
"Please be assured that members will be kept up to date on progress and further communications will be issued as appropriate.
"In the meantime normal service continues on Mobhi Road. le mór meas, Cormac Ó Donnchú, Cathaoirleach, CLG Na Fianna"
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