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Primary Schools Star at City and County Sports

Craughwell NS at the Galway City Sports 2019

Two days of primary school action last week saw the Cumann na mBunscol City and County Sports held on consequtive days in Dangan. I just have the results from Craughwell NS and Ballymana NS to hand so if parents have those for other schools, please email me and I will add them/photos thanks.

While obviously based in the county, Craughwell NS have always contested the city sports rather than the county sports because the latter did not exist when the school first started competing in athletics events. This year, the school enjoyed one of its best days ever with Ella Farrelly and Grace Lynch taking gold and silver in the U13 Girls 100m and the U13 Girls relay team also cruising to victory with the aforementioned ably assisted by Grace Keaveney, Rachel O’Callaghan, Isabel Schukat and Andrea Clancy.

Keelan Moorhead raced to bronze in the U11 400m and combined with Ben Moran, Oran Collins, Eanna Morrissey and Alex Ryan for bronze in the 4x100m relay. Alan Hallinan took the gold medal in the U9 400m by over 40m and led the U9 boys relay team to victory along with Calum McMahon, Cathal Desbonnet, Darragh O’Donnell, Sean Colleran and Stephen Coleman.

Katelyn Walsh was just outside the medals in 4th place in both the U11 Girls 400m and in the U11 Girls relay with Lauren Morgan, Chloe Keane, Ciara O’Connor, Mia Hollingsworth and Alana Clancy.

Ballymana NS shone at the Galway County Sports in Dangan with victory in the U13 Girls 100m for Aoibhe Donnellan and also in the U13 Girls 4x100m with Aoibhe joined by Isabella Boland, Abaigh Molloy and Gillian Crowe. Siblings Emma and Oisin O’Donovan raced to silver in the U11 Girls 400m and U9 Boys 400m.

Craughwell NS U13 Girls 4x100m Relay Team - Galway City Sports Champions 2019

Ballymana NS U13 Girls 4x100m Relay Team - Galway County Sports Champions 2019

Craughwell NS U13 Boys 4x100m Relay Team at the Galway City Sports in Dangan

Craughwell NS U11 Girls 4x100m Relay Team - 4th place at the Galway City Sports 2019

Craughwell NS U11 Boys 4x100m Relay Team - Galway City Sports Bronze Medallists 2019

Craughwell NS U9 Boys 4x100m Relay Team - Galway City Sports Champions 2019

Kyle Storms to Silver at Taillteann Games

Kyle Moorhead on the podium at the Taillteann Games

Kyle Moorhead put in an incredible run in the 1500m steeplechase last weekend to take the silver medal at the inter-provincial Taillteann Games in Santry last weekend. Having placed 6th a few weeks earlier against the same competitors at the Irish Schools finals in a PB time of 4:52.74, Kyle knocked a whopping 9 seconds off this time to take the National silver in 4:43.77 - Kyle’s first time on the National podium and a well-deserved success for a very dedicated athlete. This puts Kyle firmly in the frame for selection for the Irish team to contest the schools international later in the summer, with the team to be announced shortly.

At the same event Sean Cotter put in a blistering run to take 4th place in the 3000m in a time of 9:03.69 while Ross McGuinness placed 10th in 9:41.18. Lukas Schukat took 7th place in the high jump with 1.70m and 9th in the triple jump with 10.19m, Sophie O’Brien placed 10th in the high jump with 1.40m and Alisha Larkin placed 11th in the long jump with 4.65m.

Also in action last weekend, Jack Miskella continued his good form with a fantastic PB and club record of 3:59.03 at the Irish Milers meet in Belfast – breaking the old record of 3:59.45 set by Damien O’Boyle in Texas last year. While John Cormican raced to 3rd place in the men's 800m at the UL Thomond Games in Limerick in a time of 2.00.93 

Kyle in action in the Taillteann steeplechase

Superb Performances at Connachts Day 2

Craughwell AC's Ryan Gallagher, Connacht U18 Boys Long Jump Champion 2019

Craughwell AC enjoyed another triumphant day at the U14 to Senior Connacht track & Field Championships held in Sligo the weekend before last with dozens of athletes featuring on the podium throughout the day.

Highlights of the day included Ryan Gallagher’s leap of 6.04m to take the Connacht title in the U18 Boys Long Jump which was Ryan’s first time over the 6m mark and Sean Liston’s 1.55m leap to take silver in the U14 Boys High jump, a 30cm PB for Sean! It was a fantastic day also for Aoife Kelly with tripe medals including a silver in the U17 Girls Hammer with a fantastic 20.51 throw in her debut in the event.

Craughwell AC's U14 Girls 4x100m team who took relay silver
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Craughwell AC's U15 Girls 4x100m team, Connacht Champions 2019
Jade Moorhead, Aoibhe Donnellan, Ella Lyons, Siofra Davis

Craughwell AC's 4x100m team who placed 2nd in the U15 Girls relay at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo
Erin Kelly, Clara Corbett, Leonore Church and Aoibhe Fahy

Craughwell AC's Lauren McNally, Aoife Kelly and Saoirse Pierce at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

The day kicked off with the 4x100m relays where the U17 Girls took the Connacht U17 title in a time of C 56.65 with Aleisha Larkin, Lauren McNally, Aoife Kelly and Saoirse Pierce. The U15 Girls had an impressive performance in their 4x100m with both teams racing to gold and silver in fantastic times of 54.38 and 56.35. The Connacht title winning team featured (Ella Lyons, Jade Moorhead, Siofra Davis and Aoibhe Donnellan while the silver medalists were Clara Corbett, Leonore Church, Erin Kelly and Aoibhe Fahy. The U14 girls were also impressive with a very good time of 55.46 to take the silver medals in their 4x100m with Adara Salvo, Grace Keaveney, Ella Farrelly and Aoibhe Donnellan. 

There was some tremendous middle-distance action with Jack Miskella continuing his outstanding form when taking the Connacht Senior Men’s 1500m title in a time of 4:11.11 and adding silver with 2:00.56 in the 800m for good measure with Ben Garrard taking bronze in 2:02.22; Paddy Noonan strode to victory in the U19 Boys 1500m in a time of 4:16.56; Fauve Aylmer swept to the Connacht title in the U15 Girls 800m in a time of 2:26.79; Kyle Moorhead took the Connacht title in the U17 Boys 3000m Steeplechase in a time of 10:55.79; Ross McGuinness took the Connacht title in the U16 Boys 3000m in 9:33.43; Mark Davis added silver in the Masters Men 3000m in a time of 9:38.02; Ailbhe Miskella raced to silver in the U18 Girls 2000m Steeplechase in 8:19.01; Sean Noonan took bronze in the U19 Boys 800m in 2:11.59; Oisin Davis took bronze in the U17 1500m in 4:36.32 and 4th place in the 800m in 2:14.09; Emily Miskella raced to bronze in the U16 Girls 1500m in a time of 5:17.32; while Ciara Sheppard raced to 4th place in the U18 Girls 1500m in 5:49.02.

Some of Craughwell AC's Middle Distance Stars at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo
Paddy Noonan, Jack Miskella and Oisin Davis

Craughwell AC's Fauve Aylmer, Connacht U15 Girls 800m Champion 2019

Craughwell AC's Aoife Kelly and Ailbhe Miskella relaxing trackside at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

The sprints saw a strong return to action for Sinead Treacy when racing to victory in the Senior Women’s 400m in a time of 59.79 – Sinead blasted out of the blocks to establish a significant lead over the first 250m but ran into lactic agony on the home straight but just had enough in the tank to hold on for victory. Master sprinter and coach extraordinaire Ronnie Warde raced to victory in the Master Men’s 100m in a time of 11.21; Alisha Larkin took silver in the U17 Girls 100m in 13.48; Aoibhe Donnellan raced to a fine silver medal in the U14 Girls 80m in a time 11.13 and then literally had to race into the car for her dad Charlie to whizz her to Dublin to play in the half-time Cumann na mBunscol camogie match during the Galway-Dublin hurling game; and Fauve Aylmer followed up her earlier 800m Connacht title with bronze in the U15 Girls 200m in 28.66.

Ella Lyons took bronze in the U15 Girls 80mh in a time of 15.79 while in the long hurdles, Cian Lavan took silver in the U15 Boys 250mh in 41.64 and there were triple bronze for James Furey in the U17 Boys 300mh in 49.43, Saoirse Pierce in the U16 Girls 250mh in 43.83 and Siofra Davis in the U15 Girls 250mh with 44.43.

The throws also saw strong performances with the aforementioned silver for Aoife Kelly in the U17 Girls Hammer. Aoife added bronze in the U17 Girls javelin with 13.97m, an event where Lauren McNally fired the 500g javelin out to an impressive 22.95m to take silver. Millie Geraghty was very impressive in the U15 Girls javelin with her best of 25.15m taking silver and Aoibhe Fahy not far behind with 23.12m to take bronze while Andrew Power was also in fine form with 25.75m to take bronze in the U15 Boys javelin. Calvin Ryan took silver in the u15 Boys shot putt with 10.02 with Aoibhe Fahy adding to her earlier javelin medal with 8.10m to take bronze in the U15 Girls shot putt.

Craughwell AC's Aoife Kelly who won triple medals in the U17 Girls Hammer, Javelin and Triple Jump 
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Craughwell AC's Andrew Power who took bronze in the U15 Boys Javelin
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Craughwell AC's Millie Geraghty and Aoibhe Fahy who placed 2nd and 3rd 
in the U15 Girls Javelin at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

The good performances continued in the horizontal jumps with Ryan Gallagher and Aleisha Larkin leading the way with brilliant PBs of 6.04m and 5.00m to take the Connacht long jump titles in the U18 Boys and U17 Girls events – the first time over 6 metres for Ryan and first time over 5 metres for Aleisha. It was triple glory in triple jump for Leanagh Gilligan, Lukas Schukat and Evan Hallinan with all 3 taking Connacht titles – Leanagh supreme in the U18 Girls event with 10.05m, Lukas repeating this with 10.34m in the U16 Boys event and Evan likewise with 9.52m in the U15 Boys event. Siblings Aoife and Erin Kelly both added silver in their triple jumps with Aoife leaping 8.77m in the U17 Girls event and Erin leaping 8.24m in the U15 Girls event. Evan Quinn sailed to silver in the U15 Boys long jump with 4.61m while Grace Keaveney leapt an impressive PB of 4.50m to take silver in the U14 Girls long jump. Leanagh Gilligan added a bronze medal in the U18 Girls long jump with a leap of 4.89m, with Ella Lyons doing likewise in the U15 Girls with 4.33m and Lukas Schukat taking 4th place in the u16 Boys long jump with 4.97m.

Craughwell AC's Aleisha Larkin, Connacht U17 Girls Long Jump Champion 2019

Craughwell AC's Triple Jumpers Erin and Aoife Kelly at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Craughwell AC's Ella Lyons who medalled in the U15 Girls Long Jump and Hurdles
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

The high jump saw some fantastic success with the aforementioned leap of 1.55m by Sean Liston one of the highlights. Several athletes from the club soared to Connacht titles with James Furey doing so in the U17 Boys event with a leap of 1.60m, Sophie O’Brien in the U16 Girls event with a PB leap of 1.48m and Siofra Davis in the U15 Girls event with 1.50m. Jade Moorhead and Saoirse Pierce had to settle for silver in the U15 and U16 Girls high jump events, both tying on countback with the winning jumps of 1.50m and 1.48m. Lukas Schukat and Evan Hallinan took silver in the U16 and U15 Boys events with leaps of 1.65m and 1.50m, Evan struggling with an injury on the day. Isabella Fitzgerald also took silver in the U14 Girls with a 1.35m clearance. Leonore Church made it a clean sweep of the medals for the club in the U15 Girls event with a 1.45m clearance to take bronze; Calvin Ryan did likewise in the U15 Boys High Jump with Evan Quinn in 4th place with a 1.40m clearance. Cian Lavan was unlucky that the event clashed with the long hurdles and entered the competition at 1.55m which Cian is capable of but just a little high to commence jumping at. Cian later added the gold medal in the U15 pole vault with a 2.00m clearance.

Full results of the day are here:- results

Craughwell AC's Sean Liston who won silver in the U15 Boys High Jump
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Craughwell AC's Evan Hallinan, Calvin Ryan and Evan Quinn who placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th
in the U15 Boys High Jump at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Top 3 in the U15 Girls High Jump at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo
Craughwell AC's Soifra Davis (gold), Jade Moorhead (silver) and Leonore Church (bronze)

Craughwell AC's James Furey, Connacht U17 High Jump Champion 2019

Craughwell AC's Saoirse Pierce and Sophie O'Brien who took silver and gold in the U17 Girls High Jump
at the Connacht Track & Field in Sligo

Timetable for Christy Kennedy Sports

Order of Events for Connacht U14-Senior June 15th

Click on image for bigger version

Craughwell AC On Top at Connachts Day 1

U12 Boys Relay Teams at the Connacht Championships in Dangan

The Connacht U9 to U13s Track & Field Championships took place last Saturday in Dangan with yet another fantastic day for the club where it stood out as the top club in Connacht in terms of both participation and success with 31 podium finishes throughout the day ahead of Mayo’s Lake District AC on 20. It capped an impressive performance by Galway clubs in general with Tuam AC and GCH also in the top 5 clubs with 19 and 13 podium finishes respectively.

Ella Farrelly led the way with an incredible triple set of Connacht titles in the U13 Girls long jump, sprint and hurdles. Ella took the victory in the long jump with a fine leap of 4.42m and followed this up with a scintillating 10.33 to take Connacht title in the 60m hurdles and rounded off a fabulous day with an electric 11.35 to storm to victory in the 80m sprint. Darragh Kelly also had a fine day with triple individual medals including an impressive 4.42m to take silver in the U13 Boys long jump before racing to bronze in the 60m hurdles in 10.64 and wrapping up a super day with the Connacht title in the high jump with a leap of 1.50m.

 Triple U13s Individual Medallists - Ella Farrelly and Darragh Kelly

Read more: Craughwell AC On Top at Connachts Day 1

Jack Miskella Breaks Club 800m Record!

Jack leading the way from John Cormican and Gavin Cooney in the Galway Senior 800m recently
(picture courtesy of Leonardo Brûlé) 

An amazing year continued for Jack Miskella last Saturday at the IMC Le Cheile meet in Leixlip. Having dipped under 2 minutes for the first time only a week ago with a 1.59.70 in the Galway Senior Track & Field, Jack absolutely blasted his PB away by more than 2 seconds when recording 1.57.47 in a gritty race.

Feeling the pressure with 200m to go, a lane opened up for Jack as people vied for position entering the home straight and despite being in anguish, he went for the gap and hit the accelerator for the last 100m for a fantastic time.

Jack being presented with a training grant of €100 by Club PRO Mike Tobin
in recognition of his selection for the Irish Universities International against Scotland recently

Jack’s time was not just a PB but also a club record, just pipping the time of 1.57.96 set by Damien O’Boyle in 2015.  Jack becomes part of an elite group of 6 athletes who have broken the 2 minute barrier on 1 or more occasions indoors or outdoors. The following are those who have achieved the feat either indoors or outdoors :-

At the same Le Cheile meet, Sinead Gaffney recorded an impressive 2:21.29 to come close to breaking her own club record of 2:20.43 set in 2017. The female equivalent of a sub-2 minute 800m is breaking 2:25 as per the IAAF scoring tables. The numbers of girls in the club achieving that elite feat is slightly less than the lads but equally impressive with Sinead heading both the indoor and outdoor tables and Arlene and Fauve lurking in the shadows to take her crown!

Sinead on her way to victory in the Galway Senior 1500m 
(picture courtesy of Leonardo Brûlé) 

Craughwell AC Retain Galway Senior League Title!

Mark Davis and the King of the Track Gerry Ryan pictured
at the Galway Senior T&F Championships along with Castlegar AC's Shane Begley
following Gerry's National record-breaking run in the men's 10000m

The final two days of the Galway Senior Track & Field took place over the last two Thursdays in Dangan. Craughwell AC trailed GCH by six points after day 1 but managed to overhaul the deficit on day 2. The reduced program on day 3 comprised 10,000m, mile and hammer for both male and female categories and sprint time trials over 120m and 300m. 

The third and final day saw Craughwell AC and GCH entering the day tied on 181 points at the top of the league table, with Craughwell AC’s title on the line which the club had won at the inaugural Galway Senior League last year. Incredible team spirit saw the club pull victory out of the bag, inspired by the return to action of the ageless Gerry Ryan who donned the green and white singlet after a few years absence on the track to record an incredible 33:25.31 and take the victory in the Men’s 10000m with Mark Davis 2nd in 34:45.36.

Gerry’s time is one that men half his age would be proud of and is a new Irish record in the over-55 men’s master category, knocking an incredible 82 seconds off the previous record held by Dublin’s legendary Jim McNamara.

Full results of the team scoring are here:- team results. And some super photos (including the one of Jerry/Mark above and Gavin below) from John O'Connor day 3 and from Leonardo Brûlé day1 and day2.

Gavin Cooney being presented with the Tim Colleran Cup 
by County Chairman Brian Bruton following his victory in Senior Men's Mile
at the Galway Track & Field Championships

Gavin Cooney raced to victory in the Senior Men’s Mile to claim the inaugural Tim Colleran Cup in a time of 4:52.56 and followed it up immediately with bronze in the Senior Men’s 300m in 40.47. Ailbhe Miskella took gold in the Junior Women’s Mile in 5:56.01 with Ciara Sheppard 2nd in 6:23.66. Noel Gorman took bronze in the M35 Men’s Mile with 6:07.00.

Sinead Treacy took gold in the Senior Women’s 120m in 15.73 and added silver in the 300m in 41.14. Aubrey O’Brien took silver in the Junior Men’s 120m in 14.89 while Colm McAllen added valuable points for the team with silver in the M35 Men’s Hammer with 12.72m. 

Sinead Gaffney and Sinead Treacy after their 300m
at the Galway Senior Track & Field Championships in Dangan

Below is a recap of the the second day of the Senior Track & Field which took place in Dangan a week earlier where Craughwell AC again excelled across a range of events.

Jack Miskella’s silver in the Senior Mens 800m was one of the highlights of the meet when breaking the 2 minute barrier for the first time in 1:59.70 with John Cormican hot on his heels to take the bronze in a 2:00.24 PB. Sarah Finnegan took double gold in the Senior Womens triple jump (9.29) and discus (12.54). Aisling Keady took gold in the Senior Womens Weight for Distance (3.63) while Sinead Gaffney raced to silver in the 800m in 2:26.04. In the Masters grades, Gerry Treacy took gold in the O50 200m in 35.73, while Cormac Kearney took gold in the O35 high jump with an impressive leap of 1.45. Brendan Treacy took silver in the O50 5000m in 24:31.43.

Top 3 in the Womens High Jump at the Galway Senior Track & Field Championships
Ciana Reidy (2nd), Ellie Cronin (1st), Freya Bohan (3rd)

In the Junior grades, Jerry Keary took gold in the Mens high jump (1.85) with Daniel Callanan-Forde doing likewise in the triple jump (11.50). Leanagh Gilligan took gold in the Womens triple jump (9.51) and Eva Whyte 2nd with a leap of 8.34. Freya Bohan won the Womens 800m in her first time over the 2-lap distance in 2:41.45. The club took a clean sweep in both the Junior Women’s high jump and 3000m with Ellie Cronin leading the way with 1.55 in the high jump followed by Ciana Reidy (1.45) and Freya Bohan (1.25) and Ailbhe Miskella taking the gold in the 3k in 11:33.94 with Ciara Sheppard 2nd in 12:26.16 and Catherine Noonan 3rd in 13:24.15. Ava Finn took silver in the women’s 200m in 29.68, with Aubrey O’Brien doing likewise in the men’s event in 26.07.

Top 3 in the Junior Womens 3000m
Ailbhe Miskella (1st), Ciara Sheppard (2nd) and Catherine Noonan (3rd)

Craughwell dominated the relays taking the gold medal in all four relays – Womens 4x100m (53.45) - Sarah Finnegan, Aisling Keady, Ava Finn and Sinead Treacy; Mens 4x100m (46.25) – Aubrey O’Brien, Jerry Keary, Daniel Callanan-Forde and Conor Duggan; Women’s 4x400m (4:14.04) – Freya Bohan, Sinead Gaffney, Ciana Reidy and Sinead Treacy; men’s 4x400m (3:38.04) – Conor Duggan, Jack Miskella, John Cormican and Gavin Cooney. The club also took gold and bronze in the O35 Men’s 4x100m with Cormac Kearney, Ronnie Warde, John Walkin and Conor Dunne 1st in a time of 48.93 and Gerry Treacy, John Ward, John Fitzpatrick and Noel Gorman 3rd in 63.33 and adding a 2nd bronze in the 4x400 in 5:07.38.

Galway Senior Men's 4x100m Champions 2019
Craughwell AC's Aubrey O’Brien, Conor Duggan, Daniel Callanan-Forde, Jerry Keary

Galway Senior Women's 4x100m Champions 2019
Craughwell AC's Sarah Finnegan, Sinead Treacy, Aisling Keady, Ava Finn

Galway O35 Men's 4x100m Champions 2019
Craughwell AC's Ronnie Warde, Cormac Kearney, Conor Dunne, John Walkin

Galway O35 Men's 4x100m and 4x400m Bronze Medalists 2019
Gerry Treacy, John Ward, John Fitzpatrick, Noel Gorman, Colm McAllen

Galway Senior Women's 4x400m Champions 2019
Craughwell AC's Sinead Treacy, Sinead Gaffney, Freya Bohan, Ciana Reidy

Galway Senior Men's 4x400m Champions 2019
Craughwell AC's Jack Miskella, Conor Duggan, Gavin Cooney, John Cormican

Solid Performances at Irish Schools T&F

Ross McGuinness, Patrick Noonan and Kyle Moorhead soak up the atmosphere at
the Irish Schools Track & Field in Tullamore

Several athletes from the club journeyed to Tullamore to battle for honours at the National finals of the Secondary Schools Track and Field  on Saturday 1st June. There were no medals on the day but some fine performances including Sean Cotter (Calasancius Oranmore) 5th place in the Inter Boys 3000m in 9:16.18; Fauve Aylmer (St Raphaels) 6th place in the Junior Girls 800m in 2:27.24; Kyle Moorhead (Pres Athenry) 6th in the Inter Boys 1500m Steeplechase in 4:52.74; Gerry Keary (Galway Technical Institute) 7th place in the Senior Boys high jump with a leap of 1.85; Ella Lyons (Pres Athenry) 7th in the Minor Girls 75m hurdles in 12.51 and 11th in the long jump with 4.27; Jade Moorhead (Pres Athenry) 8th in the Junior Girls high jump with 1.45; Sophie O’Brien (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) 9th in the Inter Girls high jump with 1.45; Evan Quinn (St. Brigids) 9th in the Minor Boys long jump with 4.77; Leanagh Gilligan (St. Brigids) 9th in the Senior Girls long jump with 4.84 and Eva Whyte (Calasanctius) 11th with 4.27 and both girls later placing 10th (Leanagh 9.92) and 11th (Eva 8.62) in the triple jump.

Sophie O'Brien, Siofra Davis and Jade Moorhead competing in the high jump
at the Irish Schools Track & Field in Tullamore

Order of Events for Connachts U9-13s June 8th

Timetable for day 2 of Galway Senior T&F

Galway Track and Field Championships 2019

Day 2 programme
Thursday 30th May, Dangan

Order of events from 7pm

Track

7.10 400m Hurdles
7.20 3000m (Ladies) 
7.40 5000m (Men) 
8.10 200m
8.25 800m 
8.40 4 x 100m relay 
8.50 4 x 400m relay

Field 
Jumps –

7.05 High jump

7.45 Triple jump

Throws-

7.15 Discus,

7.45 Weight for distance

Order- Ladies events followed by Men

Categories Junior, Senior, Masters O35, O50, O65 
Clubs entry via email
Guests ( AAI reg ) 5 euro 
Limited on the night entry from 6.20

5km may have two heats if more than 20 check in

Ladies may run 5km with men , non championship

Events MAY run ahead of schedule listen to announcements!

€117K Grant Announced for Craughwell AC!

The club is absolutely delighted to learn yesterday that it has been awarded a LEADER grant of €117,000 towards the provision of a toilet block and community room on its 8-acre grounds adjacent to Craughwell national school.

Provision of toilets for our large membership is 1 of the priority needs of the club and this grant is a massive boost for the club’s ambitious development plans.

The grant is the second LEADER grant approved this year, with funding of €15,000 granted in January towards the recently completed perimeter walking pathway around our grounds.

The application for funding for the building was a more complicated process and the club had to go through a rigorous procurement process via the eTenders website. The club appreciates the diligence and assistance of the officials in both Galway Rural Development and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the work done by one of the parents in the club Kieran Quinn of Sean Dockery & Associates who steered the club through the procurement process.

The club are in the process of raising additional finance for the project – primarily in the form of a loan from Community Finance Ireland but also will be driving some fundraising towards it.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CLUB LOTTO

Parents are again encouraged to support our club Lotto which is a cornerstone of our facility funding. You can sign-up for as little as €20 which would leave your account every 10 weeks.

The club’s policy is to fund the development primarily with grants and debt – and our Lotto income is a key part of repaying that debt. The result is that we can provide facilities immediately to current members rather than fundraising for years and providing them when perhaps the children whose parents funded them have left the area.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT

The grant-aided building is not the only part of imminent development plans – the club has applied for a Sports Capital Grant for extending its sprint track into a J-track and all going well with the grant process, work would start on that early next year. The club also has a grant of €72,000 towards a 36x24m sportshall which it hopes to commence once the toilet block and community room project is complete.