Harps allocated €750,000 to start new Stadium this year

April 6, 2007

Finn Harps are delighted with the announcement that funding of €750,000 has been approved for 2007 in order to commence works at the new stadium at Stranorlar.

This is a great boost for the Club, and also for the Twin Towns and the County.

Club Shareholders gave the Board a mandate two years ago to proceed with the stadium plans. Planning permission was obtained in mid 2005. Approval to proceed to tender was obtained from the FAI in early 2006. Local developers, Joseph McMenamin and Sons won the tender process, and their tender was approved a few months ago.

The contractors have indicated that they are anxious to start as soon as contracts are finalised. Hopefully this will be sorted out in the coming months to the satisfaction of the parties involved.

We would like to pay tribute to various local groups, organisations and individuals who have assisted in getting the project to this stage – including the local Trust, County Council officials and Members, local landowners, as well as Ministers Mary Coughlan and Pat the Cope Gallagher. The FAI has been particularly supportive, and their advice over the last few years has been invaluable.

This development is critical to the clubs long-term plans to build sustainable structures for the future in line with UEFA Licensing. As well as the provision of a new stadium, the Club are actively seeking to develop our youth structure in conjunction with local soccer bodies.