Grand opening of Augher’s community MUGA pitch

This partnership was one of the successful groups who benefited from the ‘Your Club, Your School’ Joint Working Group of Department for Communities, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, District Councils, Department for Education (DE), Education Authority (EA) and Sport Northern Ireland.

The working group’s aim is to promote community use of school sports facilities through the opening of the school sports estate to the community and local clubs which in turn will have a major impact on the provision of sports facilities throughout Northern Ireland.

Augher Central Primary School hosted a community fun night to celebrate the occasion and held a 5-a-side football tournament along with Augher Stars to showcase the fantastic new facilities to the wider Clogher Valley community.

Chair of Board of Governors and local minister Rev Olie Downey welcomed the community, local Principals from other schools in the Shared Education partnership and special guests.

School Principal Andrea Sawyers explained how the MUGA pitch and extension to the school playground came about, and paid tribute to Andy Brunt whose vision and passion had begun the process.

Mrs Sawyers thanked members of EA for leading the project and for their support and help over the last nine years as the school has completed four different minor works proposals, doubling its physical size and pupil enrolment. She also paid tribute to the members of the Board of Governors, past and present and school staff for their continuing vision, hard work and dedication which provides outstanding educational opportunities and facilities for the children from the Clogher Valley Area.

Glenda Hall from EA also attended the event, and she outlined how the project had epitomised everything that EA represented and aspired to be since bringing together the five education and library boards. Ms Hall thanked her team and all the parties involved who had made the project possible.

The fun night brought together children and young people from across the community to enjoy bouncy castles, face painting, toddler events, live music and performances from Augher Central Primary School Highland Dance Group and Irish Dancing performances. Roughan Silver Band, under conductor Stephen Crooks provided music for the audience to sit back and listen to while enjoying a BBQ organised by the PTFA to help fundraise for the school.

14 October 2019