Ireland's Sports Minister Martin Cullen will officially open the Abbeyfeale Mini-Pitch in Co Limerick facility next week, it has been announced.

The Mini-Pitch forms part of a joint project between the council and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) involving the development of five all-weather soccer and multiuse facilities throughout County Limerick.

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism offered €35,000 to develop the small sized all-weather pitches.

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Ned Gleeson, Limerick County Manager, said: "Limerick County Council is delighted to be able to work in partnership with the FAI in developing these facilities and looks forward to seeing them contribute to the development of soccer in the towns concerned and in the wider community."

Local councillor Francis Foley said: "The provision of these new facilities represents another major milestone in the ongoing development and promotion of soccer at local level.

"The collaborative approach to delivering the facility is commendable and lays down the marker for how projects of this nature should be carried out in the future."

Last year the council signed a €623,500 contract with Emerald Pitch Developments Ltd, of Clonbullogue, Edenderry, Co Offaly, for the provision of the Astroturf pitches.

(PR/JM)