Johnny Cooper says losing Na Fianna pitches will be 'such a devastation' for the community
Hundreds of club members turned out to voice their concern over plans to close their main pitch
Gavin O'CallaghanDeputy Editor
Dublin star Johnny Cooper has said that Na Fianna losing their pitches to MetroLink works will be "such a devastation" for the club and surrounding community.
Cooper attended a public consultation in The Helix this week along with hundreds of other members of the Glasnevin club to express concern to officials over the impact the works will have on the area, particularly young players.
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The club's main pitch, along with two all-weather pitches, are set to be closed for a minimum of six years while building goes on with Na Fianna saying planners showed a "lack of respect" to them when making the decisions.
(Image: NaFianna/MetroLink)
They said that Transport Infrastructure Ireland had contacted them just 48 hours before plans were announced to tell them that they would be impacted.
Speaking at the public consultation, Cooper said losing the pitch will have an impact on the whole of Dublin's northside.
Plans to cut into Na Fianna's pitch (Image: NaFianna/MetroLink)
He said: "The pitches are at the heart of our community and for me growing up, and the opportunities I've gotten in the last number of years - I want those opportunities for the younger kids.
"Hundreds and thousands of kids that we have playing every week, all the different activities that go on on the front pitch - it's such a special place.
"The family atmosphere that we have and a community base, it's so powerful in many different ways, not only sporting but also off the pitch.
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"Culturally, socially, developing yourself - it's such an integral part of the community.
"To lose it for a number of years, however many years that may be, will just be such a devastation to not only the community, but to the northside of Dublin."
The club, which has more than 3,000 members, has since met with the National Transport Authority and will prepare a public submission before an 11th May deadline.
The proposed MetroLink is expected to begin in 2021 and will take around six years to complete running 26km from Swords to Sandyford.
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