Munster and Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey was quick off the mark once again when he officially opened a new €250,000 state-of-the-art impressive indoor astro turf facility at Scariff RFC on Sunday.
Although small in stature, the former Ard Scoil Rís player had no problem passing a jersey to one side on a rail to unveil a plaque on the outside wall of this new all-weather 40 by 20 metres facility.
Cheered on by a large crowd of Scariff RFC committee members, supporters and young rugby players, this unveiling marked a special milestone for a rugby club that was first founded in 1963.
Family attractions to mark the occasion included a bouncy castle, barbeque and refreshments, underage rugby blitz and activities for children.
Thanking Craig Casey for attending the official opening, Michael Madden hoped next summer he would become a Lions Rugby player.
The Scariff RFC Chairman praised Munster Rugby Development Officer Gerry Casey, Craig’s father, for all the assistance he has provided the club over the years.
He was also delighted that Munster President Brendan Foley was in attendance as the Foley family have done so much for Munster and Irish rugby over the years.
When Mr Madden first brought the proposal for an indoor astro-turf facility to the club committee five years ago, he thought it would be “thrown out the door”.
However, it was fully embraced by the committee who asked how could this be done, despite the fact they are a relatively small rugby club in the heart of “strong GAA country in East Clare”.
A variety of fund raising initiatives were employed including selling €10 raffle tickets and even selling chickens in a bid to raise the necessary finance.
A sum of €70,000 was provided from National Lottery national funding, which Mr Madden felt was a bit small for a development of this scale.
When the club representatives travelled to the IRFU to make a presentation for a low interest loan, they pitched for €50,000 and came home with €70,000.
Mr Madden thanked all the partners, husbands, wives and daughters of rugby players for their unstinting support, as it is not “easy to be attached to a rugby player who likes to go on tours”.
The Scariff Club chairman joked his wife, Deirdre, refers to rugby as their “fifth child, it costs as much as you spend as much time talking about it”.
Paying tribute to all committee members and club supporters, he praised the dedication of club stalwarts such as Barry Gibbons and Michael Vaughan.
Craig Casey said he was honoured to open this “incredible facility”, which was one of the first he had seen for a club of its size.
“This facility will be brilliant for all the young rugby players and hopefully we will keep them attached to rugby. I can see there is a lot going on in Scariff between hurling, rugby and soccer.
“It is great to see all the young rugby players here today and I hope ye enjoy your blitz.
“My father, Gerry is always telling me about the good work that is going on in Scariff RFC,” he said.
Brendan Foley congratulated the club on this impressive development, lamenting the fact it wasn’t there years ago when he was bringing young players up to Scariff for joint training sessions.
Mr Foley said it is great to see the club progressing with new facilities and wished them well in the coming years.
Having watched videos of New Zealand training, Mr Madden told the Clare Champion most of the All Black training was indoors.
Some people use the astro-turf to play five-a-side soccer, while clubs like the Scariff Ogonnelloe camogie club and Scariff GAA club also pay to use it on a regular basis.
In fact, Mr Madden plays five-side-soccer one night a week with men he used to go to school with 20 years ago who he wouldn’t otherwise meet.
“It is nearly like a men’s shed for lads who can have a chat before and after the game. Somedays it feels like we are back on the school yard. It is a great social outlet,” he said.
While the astro turf was initially designed as an all-weather training facility, Mr Madden stressed it is important the local community benefit from it.
“Most of our team is made up of hurlers and soccer players. Rugby is a natural fit for GAA and East Clare. It is hard to run a club and fundraise for a development as well because we have a small committee. Everyone puts their hand to the wheel,” he said.
His father, Rob was instrumental in establishing the first rugby club lotto in Munster during her reign as president, which helped generate finance to purchase the rugby grounds and pay for the construction of the first clubhouse.
The second clubhouse was built under the stewardship of Donal Molloy, which includes an upstairs meeting room, bar, with a gym and dressing rooms downstairs.
Last year, Scariff RFC was very competitive finishing fourth in Division Three of the Munster Junior League and reaching Cup semi-finals. There are plans to try and form a second team that would feed into the first fifteen.
Scariff RFC Captain, Darragh Treacy, who is a prop forward, won a Leinster Schools’ Cup Rugby medal with Cisterian College Roscrea in 2015.
Playing rugby for the last 12 years, the 26 year-old Scariff native took up rugby in secondary school and started enjoying it.
During the winter months, he said it will be great to have the indoor astro turf for training. “Anytime you can represent your local club, playing with people you grew up makes it more heartening to be going out on to the pitch. Playing with a more remote team even to the best of your ability isn’t the same as playing with your local team.
“I have enjoyed every season I have played with Scariff under Head Coach Gearoid Devanny,” he said.
Senator Timmy Dooley said a small group of dedicated rugby stalwarts had a vision to build an astro turf facility, which has come to fruition. Over the last 20 years, Senator Dooley said new people keep coming into the club driving initiatives with great energy and enthusiasm.
He described the new multi-purpose facility as an essential investment for the current and future needs of local communities.
“When a club provides good facilities, children will come,” he said.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.