Doire Colmcille are planning to build their own pitch at Lowry's Park
A GAA club in Londonderry is to build a £500,000 pitch, with training area and changing facilities on waste ground at Lowry's Park in the Glen area.
Doire Colmcille Club Secretary, Mark Higgins, said he hoped the development would put an end to drinking and antisocial behaviour in the area.
"It will make a huge difference as we're kind of nomads at the moment."
Planning permission has been granted and the club hopes the facility will be completed by spring 2013.
The club has a long history in the city as it was formed in the late 60s from from three city clubs - Doire Og, Eire Og and Sarsfields.
"Anybody who has played football in the city over the last 100 years will know exactly who we are," Mr Higgins said.
"It's unfortunate we never developed our own pitch. It was partly to do with the landscape of the time in the 40s, 50s, and 60s when the GAA was not a sexy sport.
"It's now become that with a lot more coverage. It means that clubs now need their own facilities."
Currently, club members go to different GAA facilities across the city to train and play, at times giving up home advantage for competitive games.
Mr Higgins said the facility would help serve a need in an area with around 10,000 residents, and no sporting facilities.
He said it would also combat social problems.
"We will partner with the community to create a clear path to try and stop the anti-social behaviour."
