Sport

Antrim's new Gaelfast regeneration manager revealed

It is understood that St Paul's clubman Paul Donnelly will be the Antrim County Board's new regeneration manager, charged with heading up the £1m Gaelfast project
It is understood that St Paul's clubman Paul Donnelly will be the Antrim County Board's new regeneration manager, charged with heading up the £1m Gaelfast project It is understood that St Paul's clubman Paul Donnelly will be the Antrim County Board's new regeneration manager, charged with heading up the £1m Gaelfast project

THE person charged with leading the £1m Gaelfast plan is set to be revealed this evening – and The Irish News understands that St Paul’s clubman Paul Donnelly will be confirmed as the new regeneration manager.

Donnelly, who played for Antrim hurlers in the 1990s, is currently the policy, planning and research manager at Sport NI. He has worked for the organisation since 2002, and is not expected to take up his new post until November.

When the £60,000 per year job was advertised by the Antrim County Board back in April, it stated that the successful candidate should have a minimum of three years senior and financial management experience.

They should also have previously managed at least 10 staff or more, while it was seen as desirable to have “knowledge of the Association”.

Donnelly’s brief is to ensure Belfast gets value for the £1m that Croke Park will invest over the next five years in a bid to increase participation levels among primary school children in the city.

He will report regularly on his operational and strategic progress to the Antrim County regeneration management board.

GAA president John Horan and director-general Tom Ryan have cautioned that the investment will need to yield results over the coming years.

At least four urban development managers will spend at least one day per week in Belfast’s primary schools during term time and will be answerable to the regeneration manager.