Former Ireland U21 international Jack Grealish has publicly backed a campaign to help save Warwickshire GAA’s Pairc na hÉireann grounds.
Plans have been made to develop the grounds which has become the home of the GAA in Great Britain.
It is also the home of Warwickshire GAA who have 3,000 members within the club.
The current grounds are set to be redeveloped as part of a motorway improvement scheme.
“As a boy I spent many happy years playing Gaelic football in Pairc na hÉireann,” Grealish said in a statement via Warwickshire GAA.
The skills I learned and the encouragement I received helped me become the player I am today.
Grassroots sports are so important for kids across the West Midlands.
Warwickshire GAA is at the forefront of making sure everyone from all backgrounds has the chance to play and participate.
I fully support the campaign to save Pairc na hÉireann.
When he was younger, the Euro 2020 runner-up played Gaelic football at the grounds before he was told to stop playing by his current club Aston Villa.
Grealish famously made seven appearances for Ireland at U21 level. He also played with the Ireland U17 and U18 sides before switching to England ahead in 2016.
"I played a lot of Gaelic football," he told Sky Sports last September.
"It is rough I used to get whacked all the time, which helps me now being kicked a lot, Aston Villa told me to stop!"
🗣"I played a lot of Gaelic football, it is rough I used to get whacked all the time, which helps me now being kicked a lot, Aston Villa told me to stop!" 🤣
Jack Grealish on what made him toughen up in football after being the most fouled player last season@JackGrealish pic.twitter.com/T0BTeegHXm— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 17, 2020
Warwickshire GAA Chairman Michael Collins added on Grealish's calls: “Planning permission has been deferred twice now and a further deferral or rejection would prove catastrophic for us.
“Any appeal process could take over 12 months to complete.
Highways England have stated that they will commence work immediately after the council’s 11 August planning meeting, regardless of the outcome.
Such a scenario would mean that we would be left with barely one full size pitch and an uncertain future.
GAA President Larry McCarthy also said: “Pairc na hÉireann has been such an important facility for the GAA and the West Midlands community for many years.
“I am hopeful that the planning permission will be given on 11 August, and I look forward to visiting Solihull to see the new development in the near future.”
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