Scariff to launch fundraising campaign for astroturf facility

SPORTS and wellbeing groups from across the East Clare community are set to benefit from an all-weather, flood-lit astroturf facility being developed at Scariff Community College (SCC). 

The state-of-the-art pitch, which will be encircled by a running track, was granted planning permission in 2021 and last February received a major funding injection from the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). A major fundraising drive will be launched next Tuesday night (May 31) with a view to making up the estimated €400,000 cost of the project. 

The facility is set to have major benefits, not only for the 420-pupil school, but for a host of community and voluntary organisations in the wide hinterland of SCC. The 80m by 40m playing pitch and athletics track, which will have full floodlighting, will be used for PE classes as well as athletics, camogie, hurling, rugby and soccer. In addition, it will be accessible to local primary schools, active ageing and community games groups. 

“This will have benefits for the wider East Clare community,” said Darina Sheridan, Chairperson of the six-strong Astro Turf Steering Group. “It’s not just about sports activities, but also about wellbeing. We have had great community support from Scariff and the wide catchment area of the school, which stretches up to Feakle and down to Broadford.” 

Funding for the project has come, to-date, through an allocation of €133,000 in Sports Capital grant aid. Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) will contribute 10% and a very successful Christmas Draw has contributed in the region of €19,000.

“To say that people in East Clare are fanatical about sport is an understatement,” Darina said. “The will and the interest in supporting the project are there. There’s a big community dividend with potential to have the facility in use all week and all year.

“We have great support locally and are hoping to reach our huge diaspora of past-pupils all over the world. They will be able to donate online. The political, business and community sector have all gotten behind us. Companies can also get involved as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and we are ready to drive this element of fundraising. Any support from the community, in terms of marketing or other expertise, would also be very welcome.”

A video to promote the astroturf project, which has been made with the support of the school’s Transition Year pupils, features a range of past pupils, teachers and community leaders.

Those featured include School Principal Angela McNamara; Deputy Principal Angela Russell; Robyn McKenna of Munster Rugby; PE teachers Geraldine O’Brien and Sinéad Mortell; First Year pupils Caoimhe and Hamza; All-Ireland winner, All Star and Whitegate clubman Brendan Bugler; Amy Barrett, Scariff-Ogonnelloe Co-Captain and Clare Camogie; John S Kelly, retired Principal of SCC; Mark Rodgers, Scariff GAA and Clare Hurling; SCC’s U15 hurlers who are Clare Schools Tier 2 champions; Dr Michelle McNamara, GP and Clare Camogie; Councillor Pat Hayes, Chairperson of the SCC Board of Management; Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor, former Clare Joint Senior Hurling Managers; Jim Collins, Chairperson of Scariff Bay Community Radio and retired Principal of Mountshannon National School; Loretta Brody, Scariff Active Ageing and retired Scariff National School teacher; Laura Solon of Whitegate GAA, Clare Camogie and Galway GAA; and Michael Madden, Chairperson of Scariff Rugby. 

More details are available at scariffcommunitycollege.ie, where a Donate to Astro button is located, and by following #astroscc on social media.