Brisbane GAA's clubhouse has been devastated by the floods. Pic: Brian Sullivan.

The Willawong home of the Queensland Gaelic Football Association (QGFA) is among the premises ravaged by floodwaters.

Gaelic Park’s clubhouse bar and kitchen were overcome by water, which reportedly reached two metres leaving just the ceiling untouched. Large drinks fridges and freezers were toppled, the dancefloor was torn off and the bar’s countertops were stripped away.

The three playing pitches were shredded. They are likely to remain sodden and unplayable for some time.

QGFA officials feared the worst when they went to assess the damage at Willawong for the first time on January 14. They soon discovered that there was little that could be salvaged.

The QGFA’s President Seamus Sullivan said that the association is “down, but not out”.

“The one good thing is that the clubhouse [building] itself is fully intact. Everything else that was inside is gone, except for a gas cooker,” said Sullivan, who is also the Australasian President of the GAA.

“The dancefloor was lifted and wound up near the counter. The stage we had was lifted and came up. The fridges we had were all toppled over.”

Sections of the unsealed car park were torn up. Sullivan said that there would now be “a lot of work for Bobcats and steamrollers”.

The cost of repairing the grounds and refurbishing the clubhouse is estimated to be in the region of $150,000-$200,000.

The 2011 Australasian Gaelic Football Championships are now in doubt. They were due to be hosted at the Gaelic Park in September.

The QGFA is hopeful of the Championships proceeding and that it can start the new Gaelic football season on time.

The Gaelic Park has been the headquarters of Gaelic games in Brisbane for almost 30 years, with the land at Willawong first secured by Brisbane City Council in 1982.

The community has rallied behind the association once the extent of the damage became clear, with 150 people turning up to voluntarily clear the interior of the clubhouse last Saturday. Other GAA clubs, their affiliates and a number of tradesmen worked to remove debris and soaked equipment.

A devastated Sullivan told the Echo that he was very thankful to volunteers. Some lifted the heavy fridges and countertops outside to be tipped while others brought food for those already working.

“We couldn’t ask for more from the people of Brisbane,” said Sullivan.

“I have special thanks to the people who showed up on Saturday because they shortened the horror. Some very solid people showed up.”

Sullivan said that the Queensland flooding has seen everyone band together, regardless of their nationality.

“The other day Anna Bligh gave her proud Queenslander speech and I suppose I am a proud Queenslander too. But there are a lot of other people who stood up as well  – people who weren’t even born here. They are Aussies and at times like this they are people too. You take off all of the tags … as a community we have rallied,” said Sullivan.

The QGFA will now form a project team to push on with rebuilding the Gaelic Park.

“We need to go on and get it done quickly and not be disruptive by holding things back, said Sullivan.

By Luke O’Neill