On Friday Night 20 September 2024 we officially turned on our Pitch Flood Lights and opened our Astro Training Area.
This was a celebration of the completion of our two major Infrastructural Projects that we undertook in recent times. These were the first major projects since the construction of our clubhouse, and will serve our members well as we venture forward with new generations of players and members to come.
The new floodlight Astro training area along with floodlights on our pitch, will greatly benefit all teams both hurling and camogie, providing better training areas especially during times of shorter days and darker nights, where training can continue unhindered. As we are currently restricted in the extent of playing areas available to us, this development will contribute greatly to pitch availability during winter and spring evenings for our members.
On the opening night we had a celebration of hurling & camogie, as the youngest members of our clubs took to the pitch and had the honour of being the first teams to play under lights. Following the games refreshments were served afterwards in the Clubhouse.
The opening of the facilities was officiated by our Chairman Oliver Scally, who, in his address commended the amount of work that was carried out by all those involved in the project. He specially mentioned the 2020 – Sports Capital and Equipment Programme under which grant aid funding of €150,000 was received for this project and without such programmes, projects like these would not materialise.
Both contractors D&N Group (main pitch flood lights) and Midland Sports Surfaces (Astro training area and floodlights) were thanked for their diligent work in providing these two projects to such high standards and within programme and budget. He thanked all the committee members, fundraising committee members, club members and all the volunteers who so generously contributed both financially and with their time to deliver these fantastic additions to the club. He also thanked all those who bought and sold tickets for our fundraising draw in 2022 for €20,000 in prizes, that contributed greatly to finance these great projects.
It was also noted in his address, of the close collaboration between the hurling and camogie clubs, who work so well together to make these dreams become a reality and to deliver the highest of standards for all our members. Without this synergy between our clubs, we would not have the facilities we have today and we look forward to a bright future for both our clubs.
Oliver introduced Matt Coffey (Sheefin), as one of our oldest committee members and groundskeeper, with 60+ years involved with the club. Matt had the honour of turning on the lights, surrounded by the youngest members of our clubs, who so enthusiastically provided a count down from 10 to 1 before officially illuminating the pitch for the first time. It was also noted in his address, that these improved facilities are here to facilitate all these young members, along with the new generations to come, form both our hurling and camogie clubs.
Following the illumination, all the U10s, U8s & U6 from both clubs were invited onto the pitch to play in the first official games under lights. We know that these young players will remember this prestigious occasion, of being the first to play under lights, and will recount this memory to others as they grow and and develop with in the clubs, and one day may serve on future committees to continue to improve and develop both these wonderful clubs.
Cluain Cille Abú
