Sallynoggin Pearse Football Club’s 20-Year Quest for New Clubhouse Hits Another Snag

SALLYNOGGIN, Ireland — A 20-year campaign by Sallynoggin Pearse Football Club to secure a new clubhouse has hit another roadblock after the club deferred its latest planning application, citing a lack of support from local council officials. The club, which has been operating out of a deteriorating facility for decades, was told its application would not succeed, leaving its future in limbo.

The saga began in the early 2000s when the club, then known as Pearse Rovers, first sought to replace its aging clubhouse. The local council initially proposed relocating the club to a new facility in Sallynoggin Park, but the project stalled despite planning permission being granted in 2007. By 2018, the situation became urgent after the existing clubhouse was vandalized, prompting renewed efforts to secure a new home.

Club chairman Richie Cummins said the council had previously agreed to a deal where the club would fund construction in exchange for a long-term lease, which was necessary to secure grants and loans. However, at a meeting in November, the council indicated it would not honor its commitment to the lease. “The pre-planning stuff was all positive,” Cummins said. “We’re ticking all the boxes. There is no issue with the building or its location. So, we’re at a loss as to what the big issue is here.”

Sallynoggin Pearse, formed in 2010 through a merger of Pearse Rovers and Sallynoggin Celtic, is a small club with two adult men’s teams. However, it has formed partnerships with other local groups, including Granada FC, which has 90 teams and 1,500 young players. The proposed clubhouse would also serve a boxing club, kick-boxing club, Dublin Fire Brigade sports club, and other community groups. “It’s not just football,” Cummins emphasized. “There’d be other groups using it, which is important.”

The council’s current offer is a vandal-proof prefab costing over €200,000, but it includes only two dressing rooms and no showers. Granada FC chairman Ciarán Kane criticized the proposal, asking, “Are you really expecting teenage girls to share that with either teenage boys or men?” Kane also highlighted broader frustrations among local clubs over the lack of adequate facilities and pitches, which has led to unprecedented cooperation among rival clubs to push for improvements.

Local TD Richard Boyd Barrett described the council’s treatment of Sallynoggin Pearse as “shameful” and “inexplicable.” “You would think they would be encouraging projects like this, but instead, they are putting obstacles in their way,” he said. Boyd Barrett noted that the issue is not unique to Sallynoggin Pearse, with many clubs in the area facing similar challenges.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, the club continues to seek a resolution, with Cummins expressing frustration over the council’s shifting policies and lack of transparency. “We’re not asking them for a penny,” he said. “Just that they honor the commitment they gave us when we gave up our claim to a pitch they wanted. They are creating a situation here where nobody can trust them.”