‘Great day for the club and community’ as land handed over to Ballincollig AFC

There were tears from the public gallery of the Cork City Council meeting tonight as it was agreed to hand over land to soccer club Ballincollig AFC, ending a more than quarter-century saga.

Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher welcomed members of the community who had come to the meeting, saying that it was “a great honour” to propose the disposal of the land.

“It’s been a long, long road to get to where we are tonight — a quarter of a century for lands that were promised to the club, and there has been many false dawns since then.

“This is one of the few powers we have as an elected member — to dispose of a piece of land, so I am delighted to say to the community ‘congratulations, here’s the keys, welcome to your new home’.”

The disposal of approximately 2.8387 hectares of land situated at and known as ‘The Landing Field’ in Ballincollig, by way of a sporting lease to Ballincollig AFC care of Niall Murphy Solicitors was agreed upon at the meeting.

Fine Gael councillor Derry Canty said: “Next week we will sit down and have the papers signed, and Ballincollig AFC will have an end to this long programme.

“They couldn’t get grants ... because they had no deed, but tonight they can apply for every grant available,” he added.

Fine Gael councillor Garrett Kelleher, a former member of the club, said: “Today is a great day for the club and the community.

“I look forward to Ballincollig AFC being able to go toe to toe with other clubs in our community.”