Strabane Sigersons lauded for 'Green Clubs' initiatives

GAA reports by Francis Mooney

THE outstanding work being carried out by Strabane Sigerson's GAC in promoting environmentally friendly methods and sustainability was showcased at a special event at Croke Park.

The club was highlighted by a case study in which members demonstrated the work it has done on biodiversity, energy efficiency and tackling plastics

GAA President Jarlath Burns praised the "incredible efforts" of the clubs involved in the Green Clubs scheme.

He described how Green Clubs are reinforcing the GAA's social leadership, improving club facilities and helping ensure a better future for their communities.

"The breadth of initiatives being celebrated here today, spanning energy, waste, water, biodiversity, and travel, speaks volumes about the innovative and community-focused spirit of our clubs," Mr Burns said.

"The diversity of these projects demonstrates how clubs are finding creative ways to address local challenges while contributing to a national movement."

The Strabane club has been lauded for its efforts and outlined its environmental initiative to help tackle local climate change.

"We have a wide-ranging activity base in our club – it will always be about our games first and foremost but it's also important to us to reach out into the community and to look to the future for the young people involved in our club," the club said.

"When the opportunity arose to take part in the Green Club Programme, it was a chance for us to get involved in a new way in projects that would benefit the club, the community and the environment.

"We are located in a town, so there were particular challenges for us when getting involved in green projects but also great opportunities to make a difference in an urban environment."

Outlining the solution identified, the club continued: "We looked at our club and operations and thought about where we could make a difference. We decided to focus on the three areas of biodiversity, energy efficiency and tackling plastics.

"Of these, we started with biodiversity and tackling plastics as these were areas where we could take action at very low cost and have an immediate impact.

"We then connected in with the local council (Derry City and Strabane District Council), with Conservation Volunteers NI and with Keep NI Beautiful for advice and guidance.

"The actions we took;

"We started by planting 150 trees in the club, with club members from the Dermot Early Youth Leadership Initiative, club volunteers and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers NI and with Keep NI Beautiful for advice and guidance.

"We left a patch of land behind the goalposts completely uncut and planted pollinator-friendly flower beds.

"We carried out an energy audit and as a first step insulated the building, upgraded our clubhouse heating and lighting systems by replacing our boiler, changing all the radiators and thermostats, changing the lights to LEDs, and upgrading the electrics throughout the building.

"Based on our energy audit, we also drew up an action plan for other short, medium and long-term energy efficiency actions and investments.

"We implemented a Tackling Plastics programme and banned the use of singleuse plastic bottles in the club.

"We started by phasing the use out before implementing the complete ban and we supported it by providing reusable water bottles to club members."

Outlining the impact of the project, Strabane Sigersons continued: "When we carried out our initial plastics audit as part of our Tackling Plastics programme, we counted 87 single-use water bottles at one training session of 150 children.

"Banning single-use plastic bottles has had a big impact in terms ofthe waste we produce in the club as well as in terms of litter left around our pitches and grounds.

"We have more inset and pollinator activity in the club since we started leaving some grass unmown during the summer and since planting our trees and flower beds.

"Club members taking part in the Dermot Early Youth Initiative, which is for 15 to 18 year olds, were really active in driving and implementing our actions.

"The club's Green Club projects were a great opportunity for them to get actively involved in environmental projects, to learn by doing and to make a very positive difference by influencing action and behaviour in the club.

"Our projects have contributed to greater awareness and to changes in behaviour throughout our membership

"We're already planning other Green Club projects. In early 2023 we will plant two hundred trees and pollinator-friendly flower beds and we have planned more energy projects, to reduce our energy use and save money for the club.

"These include short term actions energy efficiency actions as well as bigger projects including a solar PV installation."

As part of the Green Clubs initiative, the club worked closely with the local council, KeepNI Beautiful's Tackling Plastics programme which was useful in helping reduce single-use plastics in the club, Conservation Volunteers NI on the tree planting and biodiversity projects, and the Dermot Early Youth Initiative club members were also central to the projects.

With regards to funding, the trees planted were supplied through the Department for Community's Warm Well and Connected (WWC) Programme with support from council's tree officer and funding was also receoved from the Sport NI 'Building Back Better' scheme for the energy upgrades.

Giving its top tips to other clubs, Sigersons added: "Clubs can have an immediate impact by doing small things at low or no cost.

"Single-use plastics is an area where clubs can act really quickly and quite easily. Quick wins are important to take the programme forward.

"Green projects give younger clubs members a change to get involved and show leadership and they are a way for the club to look towards the future for their younger members.

"Good partnerships are really important in supporting clubs to identify and implement action."