The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
MARKING the conclusion of months of local fundraising efforts, Crusheen GAA grounds will be the venue for a sports and social evening from 5pm to 7pm on this Saturday.
For the last six months locals have been selling tickets to a draw for a car, the raffle for which will take place in Clarke’s Bar later in the evening.
The sports and social evening will see music from Tim Collins & Friends, dancers from Starlight School of dancing, and fun events like underage long puck, football crossbar challenge and a parish tug of war.
Pat O’Sullivan is chairman of Crusheen GAA club and he said a huge fundraising effort has been put in, as plans for a new astroturf move towards completion.
“Crusheen is experiencing very large population growth, there’s a lot of housing being developed, and the community is coming together to develop appropriate facilities.
“We’ve created a new entity called the Crusheen Sports Arena and Community Hub. We have lands in the centre of the village and we’re going to conduct phased development for the benefit of all the community.
“The first phase is the creation of a multi-use games area, an astroturf. We’re hoping to have it open by the end of this year. The community is rallying around and we’ve had one of the largest fundraising initiatives in the community or the club’s history, in the form of a car raffle.”
Al Hayes Motors provided a Skoda Fabia for the competition and tickets can still be purchased locally or online.
Pat said that many people have put in a great effort to help with the draw, while local businesses have also been very supportive.
“There has been a huge effort from the community, young and old were selling them near and far.”
At this stage the cost of the prizes has been met, but a final push is still ongoing to secure as much funding as is possible.
Crusheen and Tubber GAA teams are amalgamated for underage competitions, and Pat said many people from the Tubber area have been generous in their support of the fundraiser.
“This facility is going to be of use not just to people in Crusheen, but people in Tubber and a lot of people from there have bought tickets too, and their children will use it also.”
Along with the development of the floodlit astroturf, the first phase will also see an improved entrance to the grounds, the provision of a new footpath and car park. The overall cost will be in the region of €370,000.
While few new amenities have been provided in Crusheen as its population has surged, Pat said that the community is being proactive in helping itself.
“There is a lack of community facilities, but the community has taken the bull by the horns and is actively trying to develop something for young and old. There has been a lot of fundraising and this has been the biggest one to date.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
