The HSE has today begun preparations to use a state-of-the-art GAA premises in West Cork as a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre.
The Ahamilla GAA complex in Clonakilty will be used as a vaccination facility over the coming months, with the HSE this morning ramping up preparations at the site.
The premises rests on a 22-acre site, with the club acquiring another eight acres in recent times to cope with the huge demand from underage players in the locality.
The building opened in 2009, has 183 tarmac car park spaces and has a spacious room where the vaccines will be administered.
There are other breakout rooms, including a canteen, which will be provided by the club to the HSE over the coming months.
"We received a call from the HSE about five weeks ago," explained Clonakilty GAA chairman Ger McCarthy.
"They asked if providing our facility was something that we would be interested in, we discussed it and said it was. There is a real can-do attitude around Clon and people were glad to help.
"We put forward a proposal based on discussions with the HSE on what they might need and in the last few days we got down to the finer detail.
"We got a list of what was needed from them and, if we couldn’t immediately provide it, we had solutions. The HSE themselves will come and build the vaccination booths, but we provide the facilities, back-up, IT support, electrical services, and services like cleaning.
"Our grounds manager and support team will be there to offer support every day too.
"Ours is a two-storey building, the HSE will have most of the first floor, including the reception area and a few other rooms as well, including the canteen."
"We are just glad to again play our part in the fight against Covid-19"
The initial agreement is set to last into the early summer, but McCarthy says it will have no impact on daily club activity if the GAA gives the green light to return to play in the interim.
"Normal club activities will resume when Croke Park deem it safe to do so," he says. "The facility is big enough that we can go back about our business when training and games start back.
"The key thing is that we are helping the community in the meantime. Last year it was just surreal to see the whole place locked up, with no one using the complex.
"When we reopened in the summer, I saw a newfound appreciation for the club and a huge enthusiasm to get all kids back out. There was not a blade of grass that was not used.
"I think we’re well placed now to help with the vaccine rollout. We are just 30 miles from the city and central to all areas in West Cork. There is easy access to and from the complex and the layout is ideal.
"We are just glad to again play our part in the fight against Covid-19. Last March, we had an initiative to help kids in home schooling by providing new, old and unused laptops. Along with the St Vincent De Paul and the Irish Wheelchair Association, we also provided food vouchers to help people in tough times.
"Now we are glad to have another opportunity to show how we can help the wider community," McCarthy added.
The Clonakilty facility boasts three full-size playing pitches, (one of which has floodlighting), one underage pitch, a floodlit astro pitch, and a hurling alley and hurling wall. These facilities are used by over 750 players.
There is also a walkway around the premises.
Only last week, GAA president John Horan called upon GAA units around Ireland to make their facilities available to general practitioners and pharmacies, in order to aid the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.
"I have had conversations with GPs who have concerns about their practices being set up to adequately cater for the numbers that will be involved in administering the vaccine, because in many cases they are just not suitable for the turnover in people that will be involved," Horan said.
"It is with this in mind that I would make a plea to our membership that they would engage with the GPs and pharmacies in their area to make their club facilities available where needed to make the rollout of the vaccine operate as efficiently as possible."
