FERMANAGH GAA is set for a multi-million revamp of its Centre of Excellence at Lissan and work could start on an ambitious redevelopment project by the end of this year.
The Lissan centre outside Enniskillen is currently home to a changing block that has become too small for the county’s needs and two over-used pitches. That demand has out-stripped supply is a good problem for the county to have and the new development project will include the installation of two more floodlit pitches and a 3G pitch as well as the resurfacing of the existing playing fields and the building of a stand similar in size to what Tyrone have constructed at their Garvaghy Centre.
In addition a two-million pound centre will be built to house changing rooms, a strength and conditioning hub, meeting rooms, a purpose-built physio room and the county board offices in addition to car parking and an aesthetic upgrade of the surrounds at the centre.
Lissan (meaning ‘Fort’ in Irish) was originally opened around 20 years ago. Three years ago is was redeveloped but the facilities there are straining at their seams because of constant use by development squads of all age groups and the county’s senior men’s and ladies’ teams.
All-in-all, the work is estimated to cost between £3.5 and £4million and a fundraising campaign, driven by the Club Eirne committee (the fundraising wing of the Fermanagh County Board) is in now full swing.
Club Eirne has been an invaluable source of funding for the Fermanagh cause. Prior to Covid, the group raised in the region of £250,000 a year for the Erne county GAA and last year they put £162,000 into the county coffers.
For this campaign, all 20 clubs in the county were set the challenge of selling 300 tickets at £100 each (the club keeps £25 for every ticket sold) which offer the buyers’ the chance to win a new-build house in Enniskillen valued at £300,000.
The competition finale will take place on Monday, April 10 and you can enter by contacting any of Fermanagh’s clubs or go to https://winahouseinfermanagh.com/product/4-bed-home-in-fermanagh/
