Facility-sharing agreement with Finn Harps just not feasible - Mary Coughlan

Mary Coughlan has dismissed news linking Finn Harps with a possible facilities-sharing agreement with Donegal GAA at their base in Convoy. 

Ahead of the new League of Ireland season, Finn Harps chairman Ian Harkin explained that the club has recently made some tentative approaches to other sporting codes, including Donegal GAA, about the possibility of securing training facilities.

Harps’ northwest rivals Derry City were recently granted permission to use the Derry GAA Centre at Owenbeg for training. 

However, Donegal chairperson Coughlan says it’s just not feasible right now for the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy to take on any more activity. 

“I raised this at the county committee meeting on Monday night,” she said. “But there has been no formal approach made by Finn Harps to use Convoy. 

“What was made was an enquiry to a member but they were told that we just don’t have any capacity available in Convoy to facilitate that kind of request. 

“We are already catering for so many teams in football, hurling, LGFA, camogie and schools and ATU Donegal. 

“Truth be told we could probably be doing with a few more pitches ourselves as we’re at full capacity. So that kind of arrangement is just not feasible or even possible”. 

Speaking to DonegalLive on Monday, Harkin explained that facility-sharing could be a revenue generator for anyone that might be able to facilitate Finn Harps. 

“We have actively reached out to different codes to see how we can partner on different initiatives,” Harkin told Donegal Live while stressing that “they are very, very early stages of talks.”

He said: "All we can do is ask and see what the response is. That could well be a revenue stream for them.

“All of the funding now that is coming from government has to be cross-code. You have to open the doors to multiple different sports. 

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“Even in our recent LSSIF, the latest part of that is heavily focused towards that. Sligo Rovers have done a partnership with the rugby club, for example.

“We are looking at maybe moving to morning sessions. A lot of junior clubs and recreational facilities have slots taken during the evening times. 

“If we were to move to a morning session then that may suit some of the other codes. There is significant infrastructure in this county already and it makes sense that they could be opened up and made available.”