A new £528,000 sports facility has officially opened in Kilkeel, Co Down.

The facility based at Binnian Park in Ballinran was jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

It includes a full sized 3G football pitch with associated fencing and flood lights. Currently home to Valley Rangers Football Club, the new pitch will benefit the Club, Ballinran Community Association, local schools, youth clubs, and other sporting, voluntary and community organisations.

Communities Minister Paul Givan said: "This is an impressive development and will be an asset not just for Valley Rangers Football Club but also the Bracken Centre and the wider community in this beautiful rural location in the Mournes.

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"Sport helps unite people and these enhanced amenities will strengthen the club’s capacity to contribute to community cohesion in Kilkeel and further afield."

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said: "Binnian Park boasts stunning panoramic views of the coast and the Mourne Mountains and is located just minutes from the lively towns of Kilkeel and Annalong.

"Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has worked in partnership with the Department for Communities, the Ballinran Community Association and Valley Rangers in planning this new facility. The new 3G pitch demonstrates this Council’s commitment to the district's Active and Healthy Communities Strategy, allowing people to be more active, more often.

"The new 3G pitch will be used by many user groups from local football teams, schools and the local community. The advantage of the 3G synthetic pitch type is it can be used for a longer amount of time than grass pitches and is available for more of the time – combined with the floodlights, the pitch can be used at nights and during winter months, which is a great asset for improving and extending training sessions for teams."

(CD/MH)