News Release Page Title

9 June 2005

NEW £70K GYM FOR THOMAS CLARKE’S GFC

A new £70,000 gym at Thomas Clarke’s Gaelic Football Club in Dungannon has been opened for use by the whole community.

The funding, from the Department for Social Development (DSD), enabled the Club to revamp the old fitness room which had become dilapidated and to buy cardiovascular machines, free weights and other exercise equipment.

Speaking at the launch, Angela Clarke from DSD’s Voluntary and Community Unit said: "This impressive new gym was supported under the Local Community Fund. The Fund provides the means by which local people can address the needs of their neighbourhoods and, by doing so, improve the quality of their lives.

"The Club has worked closely with local community and voluntary groups and the statutory sectors to improve its facilities. They have been innovative and imaginative in their approach and are developing a variety of initiatives to ensure that a wide range of people will use and enjoy the Club.

"This is a great resource which will I hope will become a focal point not only for the younger generation but for the entire community."

The gym was opened by UTV sports personality Adrian Logan and the Mayor of Dungannon, Francie Molloy. It was also attended by two local Special Olympic medal winners, Finbar Hughes and Liam Weir.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Local Community Fund was launched by the Department for Social Development in February 2003. Since then almost £8.4M has been allocated to 48 disadvantaged areas across Northern Ireland to improve leadership and increase the ability of local communities to influence their experience and quality of life.

  2. Dungannon and South Tyrone council area was allocated £97,269.61 in 2003/04, £94,991.26 in 2004/05. A further allocation of £106,110 for 2005/06 was announced on 18 May 2005. It is administered by Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council. Contact Philip Clarke 028 8772 8613.

  3. Further details of the Local Community Fund are available from Tracey McCloskey, Voluntary and Community Unit, Department for Social Development, Level 3, Lighthouse Building, Gasworks Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2JB. Telephone 028 9082 9420.

  4. For media enquiries please contact Dara Cosgrove on 028 9082 9078.

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