Following a 30-year planning and legal dispute, a north inner city Dublin handball centre has finally been handed over to the community.
The National Handball Centre at Croke Park in Ballybough has been leased by the GAA to the National Handball & Croke Park Community Centre CLG, a group that represents the community.
It's a 200-year lease that has an annual rent of €1, and the new centre is chaired by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Former Fianna Fail leader Mr Ahern mediated talks in recent years to end the dispute surrounding the centre, which was recently re-developed.
A €15.5 million investment by the GAA sees six handball courts, a community room and a social bar with kitchen facilities and a function room. €6.5 million of the investment will be contributed to Dublin City Council.
Local councillor Nial Ring, a community director at the new centre, said: "The magnificent new centre is the culmination of years of disputes followed by negotiations mediated by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern between the GAA authorities in Croke Park and the existing Handball & Community Centre Club beside Hill 16.
"It's a world class handball centre with a superb community facility included."
