Gort gets ready to play

GORT’S new playground will officially open on Saturday, November 17 it was revealed this week. The opening will be marked by the Mad Hatter’s Party at 2pm incorporating games, a maddest hat competition and balloon release.
Work is ongoing at the site on the Ennis road and will be completed in the coming weeks.
Martin Aherne, of Gort Playground Group, is happy with the progress.
“Obviously, we know what we have and what is going in but still, it is hard not to be surprised when we go down to the site. We asked companies and individuals to help us out funding the event but then we have had lots of others just coming up and giving us money or sponsoring equipment. Generally, people were fantastic. They really came up trumps and gave donations constantly. Our biggest contributors by far were Pat and Jean Collins who donated €80,000 at the beginning. If they hadn’t done that, we would be another year trying to round up money and the playground wouldn’t open until this time next year. Their generosity has had a huge impact on us. We have planted a Copper Beech and laid a plaque with it in on the grass in the playground to show our gratitude,” he outlined.
Workers began installing equipment in recent weeks and the playground is shaping up.
“We have tried to cater for most people. We have a wealth of equipment for young children, for teenagers and for adults. For teenagers, we will have a zip line as well as a high climbing frame and monkey bars. We have zig-zag poles, we have a buddy board that can take up to four people, we have a spinner and also a teen hang-out shelter. For the under 12s, we have all the usual things, swings, slides, climbing frames with activity boards on the side of them and mazes. We have springers and have a four-person see-saw as well as a sandpit with a digger. Then we have adult equipment on the lawn too, including low-resistance equipment, with skaters and sliders. These offer a great opportunity for adults to be active, while keeping an eye on their kids. We have tried to make sure the majority of the equipment is accessible for children with limited mobility. We are also putting in picnic tables as well and some of these will have parts of the seat that are removable to facilitate a person in a wheelchair or a buggy.”
“The playground has elements, which will appeal to children who like to perform too. We have a mini stage, set in the grass area so kids can climb up on it and sing or do whatever. It is also a rain shelter and it is made of natural materials. There are drums in the grass area, so the kids can beat these whenever they feel like and use up a bit of energy,” Martin outlined.
“It is wonderful to see all these things being installed and know that the playground will be open soon. All the equipment in it was sponsored by local companies and private individuals. The council and Gort Community School gave us the land and principal Denis Corry was particularly helpful with this. Our first family wall has sold out completely and we are now launching our second one, which we think will be just as popular especially when the playground is open. It has been very successful so far but I think when people see the wall and see that their family name is missing they will want to buy a brick too. They are on sale now at the Credit Union.”
The playground is equipped with closed circuit television cameras and Martin reminded members of the public that “the playground is still a building site and people should not come in until it is open”.