Dublin GAA club left heartbroken after pitch vandalised

Crumlin GAA club have described the vandalism to their playing pitch in Pearse Park as "heartbreaking" after a car was set on fire on the surface last Monday.

The pitch was only reopened last week after being left vacant for all of the year beforehand to help with repairs and improvements.

Two matches had been played and many more were planned for the weeks and months ahead, but the vandalism has left it unusable for full-sized games going forward.

A car was driven through gates of the venue and set on fire, leaving behind debris, broken glass and a scorched surface.

Ger Gavigan, a spokesperson for Crumlin GAA, said that the club's only adult pitch has been ruined by the action.

He explained: "Dublin City Council were replacing goalmouths and some remedial work in the middle of the park. And the weather wasn't very helpful to us and it just took a long time.

"We got it back last week. We played a ladies football match on Wednesday and an intermediate hurling match on Saturday. We're heading into the busy period of the year when all teams play championship. And now we have no pitch."

He said it was a disaster for Crumlin GAA coming into their most active time of the year: "Dublin County Board have been really helpful to us over the last number of months in that they provided O'Toole Park for a lot of our home games when we had no pitch, but that's a problem now because as the senior club championship will be played in O'Toole Park.

"We've reached out to the board to see if there's any way they can help us and and we'll be reaching out to local clubs.

"We literally have one pitch. It's been a problem for us for years. So, now that we have no pitch for the foreseeable, we'll just have to depend on the charity of others."

He explained that all their teams from under-14 upwards, both boys and girls, use the main pitch.

Gavigan added: "We're a great community-based club and, and we provide a brilliant service, all provided by volunteers.

"In fairness, this is the first time there's been any act of vandalism on the pitch.

"It's heartbreaking. We were all elated last week. We had the pitch back. We were looking forward to the coming months.

"And now through an act of madness we're now left without a pitch."

Click here to read article