Press Release, 20th of January 2003
A
major fundraising initiative has been
launched by Kilmurry G.A.A. club, which is said to benefit
the community at large. The 375,ooo development will
provide a facility for a variety of sporting activities as
well as being available for social and recreational activities.
The club is promoting a confined 300 members draw at a 1,000
entry with a prize fund of 50,000. First prize will
be 40,000, second prize 6,000 and third prize
4,000. It will be possible to enter under an instalment
system. The proceeds are going towards the building of a much-needed
complex at Pairc Mhic Ghearailt, Kilmurry. The launch took
place at the club's Sponsor showrooms O'Leary's, Lissarda
Main Audi-VW dealer with Billy Morgan as
guest speaker.
This
great Nemo Rangers supremo is without doubt the most successful
personality in the history or Cork football. His captaining
of Cork to All Ireland glory in 1973 and managing the rebels
to successive titles in 1989 and 1990 are just the highlights
of a successful career at provincial, county and club levels.
The club feels very fortunate and honoured in having such
a legend present on the night.
The
background to this event is that for some time it had become
apparent that to cater for the needs of an ever-increasing
number of young members, facilities at Pairc Mhic Ghearailt,
Chill Mhuire needed to be upgraded. At present facilities
consists of a playing pitch and dressing rooms. In September
2001 an AGM of the club decided to build a complex incorporating
a sports hall, meeting room, kitchen, storerooms, viewing
balcony, plus additional changing showering and toilet facilities.
National lottery funding from the Dept. of Sport, Tourism
and Recreation was applied for, and a grant of 125,000
was awarded. Plans were drawn up by DL Group, Consulting Engineers,
and full planning permission was sought and has been granted.
Tenders for the work were invited and from a number submitted,
one has been selected and contract signing is imminent. A
fund raising committee was put in place and after extensive
consultation and research, decided on the format of the draw
and is confident that with the backing of members and supporters,
it will be an outstanding success. This committee consists
of Richard Hinchion Chairman, Mary Down, Hon. Sec., Donal
O'Leary, Treasurer, Fr. Martin O'Driscoll, William Murphy,
Billy Crowley, ML White, Paddy Crowley, John Hinchion and
Noel O'Dowd. The cost of the project is 375,000, which
leaves a sum of 250,000 to be raised, which is the amount
targeted in the draw.
The
feeling within the club is that the new facility will be of
enormous benefit particularly in the organising of games/playing
activities for the large number of young members, when weather
conditions are bad and during the long winter months. It will
also save the playing field from considerable wear and tear
currently being incurred, particularly during early season
training.
The
complex will be suitable for a wide variety of sporting activities
such as basketball, badminton, bowls, table tennis, gymnastics,
boxing, martial arts etc. It will also be available for social
and recreational activities such as card playing, dancing,
concerts, community parties, presentations, senior citizens
activities, to name but a few. Access to the fully fitted
kitchen means that a comprehensive range of refreshments,
hot or cold can be served on these occasions. It will also
be possible to provide refreshments for home and visiting
teams in comfortable, hygienic conditions. At present any
such refreshments are provided in obviously unsuitable conditions
in the dressing rooms.
It
is generally acknowledged that in the present socio - economic
climate, it is getting more and more difficulty to keep young
people involved in healthy sporting and recreational activities,
particularly when they reach the crucial teen years. The ever-increasing
culture of sedentary/couch potato type leisure activity so
readily available to young people needs to be countered in
a positive way. The provision of costly but vital facilities
such as that being put in place by Kilmurry G.A.A. Club is
essential if a serious effort is to be made to halt or reverse
present trends.
The
club is aware of the magnitude of this undertaking both in
raising the necessary finance and in maintaining and running
such a complex. However they are confident that with the backing
of the business sector in general and the support of the membership
and community at large, all targets can be met and that in
a short time a facility second to none will be up and running.
The message from Kilmurry G.A.A. Club to the people of Kilmurry
and the area in general is "a state of the art facility
is being provided in the locality, it is up to you to maximise
the benefits to be enjoyed from its existence".
The
club wishes to acknowledge the funding granted by the Dept.
of Tourism, Sports and Recreation and the assistance of local
public representatives in the securing of this funding. They
express appreciation of the work of DL. Group Engineers, Sean
Murphy, Solicitor, Kevin O'Connell Accountant and all who
helped or advised in any way towards bringing the project
to this stage.
END.
For
further information contact:
Development Committee as follows:
Richard Hinchion, Chairman, 021/7336023 086/8365174
Mary Down, Secretary, 021/7336464 086/1960034
Donal O'Leary, Treasurer, 087/9597412
Billy Crowley, Club Chairman, 021/7336031 021/4252531
(work)
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