Compare this old picture of Bearna to the village we have today, and it seems we have grown immensely - and not just in population. 

Back then, we had no play facilities - and we would probably still have none if local people had not taken up the task of providing them themselves. 

In the mid-1970s, four local families came together to buy an almost totally land-locked site in Bearna village. They formed a co-op and each contributed £100 to purchase the plot (behind what is now Thornberry). They then set about raising money to provide a small playing pitch, tennis courts, and a short-lived playground (due to insurance issues), which they did. It was recently renamed as Barna Sports Park.

As the community grew, they recognised that more land was needed, and they fundraised again to buy a larger site, this time in Clochscoilte in the mid 1980s. They provided a larger football field and a pitch-and-putt course (the site was signed over to the GAA two years ago). The original smaller pitch was re-developed into additional tennis and basketball courts, and a playground was added in recent years.

Currently, the Barna-Furbo Sports Fund's #FiverAWeek fundraiser is raising money for three projects in the community - new dressing rooms at An Sportlann, Na Forbacha, site re-development at the GAA site in Clochscoilte, and an Astro pitch in Na Forbacha (Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe).

Each of these projects (not including the lands at An Sportlann in Furbo, as we don't know the history), came about through the generosity of money and time given by the people of Bearna-Na Forbacha. The lack of contribution by our own local authority, Galway County Council, has been raised in light of the proposed variations to the Bearna Area Plan.

The Co-Op and representatives from local clubs will meet the Connemara area County Councillors tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss, not alone the lack of facilities provided/to be provided, but the failure to implement plans featured in the 2007 Local Area Plan for Bearna.

“The proposed variation to the Bearna LAP, as you can see, offers very little hope for any new community amenities,” one local resident remarked today.

“The clubs in Barna/Furbo are investing hugely in capital projects at the moment, but I still think that Galway County Council should be providing some amenities/facilities for our village.”

The Co-Op has sought a meeting with the County Councillors tomorrow in advance of their consultation with planners on Monday. Representatives from Barna Sports Park, the two GAA clubs, Soccer club, rugby club, and Barna School have been asked to attend.

“This is an excellent opportunity to voice our concerns about sports and community amenities and facilities for Barna, in advance of the plan being adopted,” a Co-Op spokesperson said.

“This plan sets out the land zoning of Barna and tries to balance the interests of landowners with community/commercial needs etc.

"This is really important – it concerns the future of our village.”

If you are unable to attend, but would like to make any observations about the revised plan (click on the first link below), send an email to shaunamccool@gmail.com.

Proposed Variation No. 2(a) and 2 (b) to the Galway County Development Plan 2015-2021

The 2007 version of the plan - a better one for the area, but little, or nothing, was achieved from it:
http://www.galway.ie/en/media/1.Bearna%20LAP%202007-2017.pdf