In the sporting arena too, our Irish connections have provided memorable moments and much-loved idols, from the likes of Paul McGrath and Jack Grealish at Aston Villa to our own Olympic bronze medallist gymnast Alice Kinsella, whose dad Mark played football for Ireland.

But in this column, I want to celebrate news that will ensure a bright future in the West Midlands for a different kind of footie – Gaelic football.

I am delighted that the planned redevelopment of Warwickshire GAA's Páirc na hÉireann has been approved by Solihull Council paving the way for a new era for the GAA in Britain.

Páirc na hÉireann has hosted numerous Warwickshire Gaelic football and hurling matches as well as the provincial knockout championships and the British University Gaelic Football Championships.

It also regularly hosts hurling teams from Ireland, following the entry of Warwickshire's hurling team into the Lory Meagher Cup and the Leinster Junior Shield.

I put my full support behind this proposal, because I know just how important the game is to the Irish community, and also because I was impressed with the way the GAA was committed to opening up facilities there to the wider community.

Unanimous support was granted at a planning committee for the new development to the south of the current site on Catherine-de-Barnes Lane.

It means that the future of the site has been secured, with two new pitches and a brand-new clubhouse joining the existing main pitch.

I believe it’s a huge honour for the West Midlands to host Pairc na hÉireann, as it is not only the home of the GAA in Warwickshire but the whole of Britain.

It has 3,000 volunteer members and attracts people from across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton to engage in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.

That’s why these plans won strong cross-party support in the region, with myself, local MP Saqib Bhatti, former Transport Minister John Spellar MP and Labour MP Jack Dromey all getting behind the proposals.

It also reflects a positive and productive partnership between the GAA and Highways England.

The ground’s redevelopment is part of the M42 Improvement Scheme, which will see a road run directly through the site’s current pitches and clubhouse.

However, Highways England are fully supportive of getting the new facilities in place, and, while there will no doubt be disruption over the coming months, by working with the local council and the community, the GAA will literally build the future of Gaelic games in the new Páirc na hÉireann, right here in our region.

By working together, what at first appeared to be an imminent threat to this wonderful sports facility has been turned into a huge opportunity, not just for the short term, but for generations to come.

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