Five years ago, Gerry Quinn was unemployed, in his mid-30s and had little prospect of getting a decent job. Today, he's in the final stages of securing funding for a £1.2 million project to develop a country park on the edge of his native Creggan estate in Derry.

In 1992, the International Fund for Ireland was the first funding body to back a project proposed by Mr Quinn and his three partners to develop a put-and-take fishery from a disused reservoir on the site.

Glenowen Fisheries, which is run as a co-operative, received £17,000 from the fund, in addition to £15,000 from the Local Enterprise Development Unit and further support from Derry City Council. The following year the project won the All-Ireland award for co-operative of the year.

The initial funding was vital, says Mr Quinn, because, despite having university degrees, the four founders of Glenowen Fisheries had no collateral to offer.

"At that time the banks weren't interested in co-operatives or community businesses. They still had this image of people in sandals who ate brown rice," he says.

Creggan's reputation as a republican area with severe economic problems also made the funding task more difficult. "It is seen as an area that was at war against the state and the people have paid the price for that."

Mr Quinn is now confident that the country park plan will go ahead, thanks primarily to consistent support from Derry City Council, which owns the site. The park will literally grow around the fishery and take in a second reservoir close by to allow the development of water sports facilities.

It is hoped to secure £650,000 through the Urban Initiative of the EU and £200,000 from Derry District Partnership. An application has also been lodged with the IFI for £165,000 towards the cost of building the water sports centre.

As well as providing recreational amenities, Mr Quinn says they are also keen to provide jobs, saying locals will be employed alongside any contractors which are brought in. "We've already sustained four jobs with minimal funding and the site has been used and enjoyed by thousands of people. So our track record speaks for itself."