4 June 2006

Dear Friends and Supporters of Loughinisland GAC,

Re: Club Redevelopment/Centenary Celebrations

On behalf of the committee we wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and your continued financial support to the club in respect of our redevelopment programme. To get to where we are at this moment has been a long drawn out process which has involved a lot of discussion/correspondence with many different bodies both statutory and otherwise. There have been periods during the last two years when we thought we would never reach the point that we have now come too and probably you, our friends and supporters, thought likewise.

However we are now pleased to advise you that all obstacles and hurdles have been overcome and the project has been given the green light to proceed. Accordingly on Monday 19 June 2006 the "Diggers Move In" !!!!

This is a huge financial undertaking for the club and without your support we would not be able to proceed. The club has been successful in receiving funding from the Sports Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund in respect of the dressing room facilities and we have generated our own funds through various fund raising projects such as Gift Aid, Golf Classic, Commemorative Plaque, Fun Run etc. We are also hopeful of financial support from Down Council and the parent body of The GAA. These grants and fund raising ventures have to date only met approximately 50% of our planned expenditure. We are continually exploring all avenues of potential funding in the hope of obtaining further funds. The balance of funding required is being financed by a long term bank loan which commits the club to substantial monthly repayments for the next 20 years. The decision to undertake such a huge borrowing has been taken after in depth debate and discussion by the committee and following an unanimous decision it was decided that now was the time to proceed. We know that the whole community support us in what we are trying to achieve for the whole community of Loughinisland and with your continued support we can meet our financial commitments.

In response to various questions that we have been asked we now state below a sample of the most common questions to which we now quote our reply:

Q. When will the work start (the most commonly asked question) ?

A. Monday 19 June 2006. Contract has been awarded to Corrigs Construction, Newcastle.

Q: Will the complete clubhouse, as proposed initially, be built ?

A: Our budget at present allows us to complete fully two sets of changing rooms with the other two sets finished to a "first fix" standard. The remainder of the ground floor will be finished as per the original proposals. The first floor multi use area will be a finished shell with a provision for a temporary bar facility. The proposed members bar/committee room area will have foundations in place only at this stage.

Q: When will the multi use area be completed ?

A; This can not be commenced until the contractor has finished the contracted works and is off site. Within our budget we have set aside an estimated amount to cover the fit out material costs, with the work being done on a voluntary basis. At this stage a lot of work and effort will be required to fit and complete this area. The response by a lot of people offering their help, skills and time has been excellent. A special meeting on this topic will be arranged and everyone is invited to attend. Further information about this meeting will be provided nearer the time.

Q:When will the members bar/committee area be completed ?

A: We have no budget at present to finance this part of the redevelopment.

Q: What can we be done to facilitate the completion of the members bar/committee area ?

A: We need funds to complete this part of the redevelopment. There are various options for supporting the club financially such as the Gift Aid Scheme and for those who have been waiting for the project to start before committing themselves to this scheme, the time is now to sign up to same. The club will be running various fund raising functions and your continued support will be critical. As soon as the funds are in place this will be given priority for completion.

Q: Will the pitch be closed during the redevelopment ?

A: No definitely not. However some minor inconvenience will be experienced particular at the senior's home games. We would ask you to have patience and understanding and to follow the match steward's instructions. It would be of great benefit if the home supporters could park behind the bottom end goals for the duration of the redevelopment work.

Q: Can people donate to the club ?

A: Yes - all donations, money or in kind, would be gratefully accepted. For individuals who wish to donate money and if the donor is a UK tax payer there is an added 28p for every pound donated benefit to the club as the club has a Community Amateur Sports Club status with the Inland Revenue

We are encouraged by the support for this project as evidenced by the many questions that have been asked. This is very positive and means so much to committee that you are fully behind us in what we are trying to achieve on your behalf for the good of the community, both now and for the future.

We are also receiving a lot of enquiries about our Centenary Celebrations and we wish to take this opportunity to update all our friends and supporters in this matter.

The official launch took place on 1st April at "The Stick" with the unfurling of the club's Centenary Banner and the exhibition of club memorabilia etc. This was followed by our centenary fun run on Wednesday 31st May and plans are well advanced for a function in late summer for which further information will be available in due course. Our Centenary Golf Classic is scheduled for Friday 8th September at Downpatrick Golf Club.

The highlight of the year will be the Centenary Dinner in the Slieve Donard Hotel on Saturday 14th October. This will be a formal occasion and has to date generated a lot of interest. Ticket demand is already high and patrons wishing to attend should purchase their tickets now. The cost of a ticket is £35 and these can only be obtained from Lisa Toman telephone 44811583 or Jim Mason telephone 44811735. All requests for tickets must be paid for at time of request as numbers are limited and only those who have paid for their tickets can be guaranteed attendance at this function. Those who wish to sponsor a table can get further details from Lisa or Jim.

Plans are also at an advanced stage in respect of the club's Centenary Publication, which charts the history of the club from it's inception in 1906 to the present day. Photographs from the Centenary Dinner function will be included in this book which will be available for purchase in time for Christmas. This has generated a lot of interest to date and as such will be a much sought after book.

In this letter we hope we have informed you as to what our current plans are for our redevelopment and where we are with our Centenary Celebrations. Updates on both of these items can be obtained from our web site www.Loughinislandgac.net , the club chairman or secretary or from members of the centenary committee, Michael Madine, Donal Gordon and Pat Gibney..

Thank you for your support to date and we look forward to your continued support in the years ahead.

Yours faithfully

Gerry Toman (Chairman)