The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
WORK has started on a €1.2 million sports and recreational development in Killaloe, spearheaded by former Lions and Ireland rugby caption Keith Wood.
The Clarisford Development will finally see recreational facilities become a reality for the communities of Ballina and Killaloe.
The first phases of the development on 25 acres of parkland behind the former Bishop’s Palace, Clarisford
House, will commence with immediate effect and include two full-size playing pitches, one all-weather floodlit pitch, floodlit training areas, 800 metres of walking/cycling trails, temporary changing facilities, car parking and ancillary services.
These phases are funded through CLDC Leader, the Keith Wood Fund and by the beneficiary clubs (Lough Derg FC, Ballina Killaloe RFC and Killaloe 5th/22nd Clare Scout Group) and is to be completed in 2013.
The sod-turning at the stunning site, which was owned and handed over on a 35-year lease by Clare County Council and the ESB, was performed by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Alan Kelly, earlier this week.
Speaking at theevent, Minister Kelly praised the group, led by Keith Wood, which has undertaken this project.
“It will be a huge boost to the community in terms of recreational and sports facilities and is in addition to other ongoing progress in the area. I will be doing everything I can to support this excellent initiative in the future.”
Access to the site has been incorporated in the plans for a new road to the proposed bridge over the Shannon.
The facility is also a timely addition for the nearby St Anne’s Community College, which is expected to have a 50% increase in student enrolment in the next three years and is already under-resourced in terms of sporting and recreational facilities.
The development company for the project, the Ballina Killaloe Sports and Community Development
Company (Clarisford) Ltd and St Anne’s are also working together to fund a new sports/community hall on the school grounds, while permanent changing facilities and an exercise studio are also in the planning.
Last week the project received a boost when Environment Minister Phil Hogan gave Clare Local Development Company official sanction to approve €200,000 in funding to the company.
Clarisford is the brainchild of former Irish and Munster legend and local man Keith Wood, who said the sod turning formality, while symbolic, was a pivotal point in what has been a long campaign. “We came together first as a volunteer group four years ago and while there’s much still to do, we are absolutely thrilled to have arrived at this stage of the project and, as construction work begins, we will very quickly see our dreams take shape. When completed, Clarisford Park will be a facility that will do this area proud,” he noted.
Joe Gilmartin, chairman of the Ballina Killaloe Sports and Community Development Company (Clarisford) Ltd, said, “Killaloe and Ballina has always been a fantastic place to live, with so many natural amenities.
However, the last decade or so has seen the local population spiral beyond any expectation, which has put a strain on local infrastructure. The population of Ireland increased by 26% in the boom years but the population of Killaloe grew by 31%, while Ballina grew by an astonishing 180%. That illustrates the need for these facilities in the area.
“That population boom, as one would expect, creates all types of growing pains, not least in the area of sports and recreational facilities for the young and old alike so Clarisford is our response to that need. We are fortunate that with the huge growth has come an equal amount of energy and we will need all of it to bring this plan to fruition,” he added.
