An Olympic Champion and an Oscar-nominated director have restated their support for a campaign to save a community pitch in Dublin's north inner city.
The pitch known as 'The Strand' is a small tarmac space on Aldborough Place, off Portland Row and just around the corner from the Five Lamps.
There are plans to build social housing on the site and on the adjoining Dublin City Council Depot.
The 49 units would be run by the approved housing body, Tuath.
Olympic champion Kellie Harrington said: "We are not opposing the housing being built on the depot that is right next to this pitch, but we want to keep this pitch.
"We want to make it a better place and have it so that new and old residents from all this community can integrate, can socialise, can build a new community and so on."
The boxer who recently regained her Irish boxing title grew up on Portland Row.
"It's where people have come for many, many years and still come, they train, they socialise, and they're free to come in and close the gates for any children who are flight risks.
"And taking this away from our community will be detrimental to the community," she said.
Oscar-nominated film maker and playwright Jim Sheridan grew up on nearby Sheriff Street.
"The inner city has not been treated very well, except for Tony Gregory, another amazing person who fought for it.
"But it's, it's just ad lib. You know, there's no plan, and there needs to be a plan. And, you know, we'll fight for it.
"We'll fight for the park and get it kept," Mr Sheridan said.
They were joined at the pitch by Sinn Féin leader and local TD Mary Lou McDonald.
Ms McDonald said the community has made it "very very clear that they want housing".
"But this facility must be kept.
"I cannot emphasise enough the importance of facilities like this in an area that is densely populated with an awful lot of young people, young people who have to have the opportunity to play, to train, to compete, to mix with each other in an environment that's safe.
"Rather than taking this away from the community, the Dublin City Council and the Government should be investing in facilities like this in the heart of the inner city," she said.
Dublin City Council and Tuath said the new housing development will also include a "multi-use community facility'", with the council "committed" to upgrading another facility, which, it said, is less than 250m away.
Tuath and DCC also say that a study identified that the area is "well served" by a "broad range" of spaces and park facilities.
