‘It would take the heart from you’ - Na Rossa decimated by Storm Franklin

Na Rossa GAA club has been left counting the cost of Storm Franklin.

Club members woke on Monday morning to devastating damage at their new ground.

The roof of a portacabin, which is used as temporary dressing rooms and also houses meeting rooms, a gym and storage area was blown off.

The roof blew off onto the dugout while debris was scattered across the pitch. Damage was also caused to the permitter fence.

In 2020, Na Rossa played their first adult games at the facility at Madavagh, Lettermacaward.

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With the 2022 season just around the corner, the club is in a real race against time.

“There is fairly substantial damage caused,” the Na Rossa club chairman, Declan Bonner, told Donegal Live.

It is estimated that the bill will run well into the thousands.

“It would take the heart from you,” Bonner, the Donegal senior football manager, said.

“We really took the brunt of the storm. We just have to get back at it and rally together.

Declan Bonner

“We got the call early on Monday morning about the damage. We are waiting on an assessment to see what the exact cost is.

“There’s a lot of damage. The portacabin is just totally decimated. These things can sometimes take a while, but we don’t really have a huge amount of time. The new season will be underway soon.

Na Rossa relocated from Dooey after a massive redevelopment project spearheaded by the likes of Kevin McCready and Michael Duddy.

Last year, planning permission was sought for the erection of a two-storey club house and eight 18m high floodlighting masts.

Na Rossa are also planning to develop a 4m wide jogging/walking track around the perimeter of the pitch and a new car park will also be included.