Chairmans Address

A Chara,

ʻFriends of the Firstʼ are you, the people of our community and parish who share in the vision and ambition of this great club.

In 2016, by purchasing the land adjacent to our current field, we set out on one of the most ambitious journeys in our club’s history.

Now, as we approach our 134th year since formation, we ask you to continue on this journey once again and we encourage our present and past club members, who are not in the scheme, to consider signing up to become a ‘Friend of the First’.

We would also encourage the wider community to consider getting involved as we move forward with community development within the club.

Since the inception of the ‘Friends of the First’, collectively we have helped to raise an astonishing £100,000, all of which has gone towards the ongoing development. We thank each and every one of you for the incredible support over the past three years.
The progress is clear to see, our new state-of-the-art Prunty Pitch was officially opened in August 2022.

A community pathway with lighting has been completed around the perimeter of both fields and work has begun on a new state of the art Prunty Pitch on the site of the existing (lower) field. The next phase of work will include floodlights on new (upper) pitch and finishing the remainder of the walkway and fencing at existing pitch.

Although partially grant aided, all of the above still adds a huge financial cost to the club going forward and so we appeal for you to play your part for your club, and become or continue to be a ‘Friend of the First’.

Newtownbutler First Fermanagh’s have been a constant in the parish for 136 years, and play a major part in this community. We believe that our youth is the cornerstone of the community and parish and with this development, we are putting our youth first.

It is our responsibility to carry on the objectives set out by our founding fathers that created the Club in Reillyʼs hotel on the 13th November 1887. They brought our national game to the town and county, and to continue what they started, we want to develop the skills of the GAA players in our community and parish.

For more information please contact Gabriel Carey (Treasurer) on 075 1325 6286. Roisin Conlon (Secretary) on 079 2303 2342. Hugo Fitzpatrick (Chairman) on 078 1887 7246.

Go raith maith agat.

Hugo Fitzpatrick
Club Chairman and ‘Friend of the First’