Larry McCarthy, Uachtaran Chumann Luthchleas Gael, and Michael Geoghegan, Vice Chairman, Ulster Council were the special guest as St Marys GAC Rasharkin opened phase one of their current development plan with their new floodlit 4G training pitch, measuring 60m x 30m including a 5m high ball wall 30m long running along one end of the pitch, on Sunday at Dreen

The new 4G is located between the two existing pitches at different levels and includes extending the existing floodlit walking track around the 4G facility.

Prior to the opening St. Mary’s Rasharkin played Davitt’s in a final Group 1 game of the Casement SC JHC which the home team won to top the group and the Lower Falls club brought their U8 hurlers along to the opening to play a challenge against the Rasharkin U8’s

A large crowd gathered as Larry McCarthy and Michael Geoghegan were joined by club president Dan McKay for the cutting of the ribbon to mark the opening of the pitch and after, Cork native, McCarthy mingled with the crowd and posed for photographs.

The facility was in the planning of the club development committee for many years and through the hard work of their committee and members they were able to appoint PJ Carey Architecture to submit planning in 2019 for the full scheme.

In 2020 the club were able to appoint Sports Pitch Specialists as main contractor to deliver the project along with specialist contractors M Hasson & Sons and Creagh Concrete to deliver the complex ball wall construction in challenging site conditions.  

St. Mary’s take great pride in the knowledge that the 4G facility at an investment of £300k is 100% self-funded with no grant monies or loans used. Its great credit and thanks to the hard-working members of the club over the past 10 years tirelessly fundraising to achieve this along with the clubs Naomh Muire LeCheile yearly 300 club development draw supported by members, wider community and local GAA Gaels 

Phase 2 of the project will see the clubs existing hall which has been in place since 1980 replaced with a gym and indoor hall to facilitate wider club activities and further carparking and facilities around the club grounds including extensive civil engineering project which includes culverting an existing river approximately 150m long which is already under way and again is being self funded. The will continue to further fundraise and be supported by their great members and community to be in a position to complete the development in the coming years. They have a vision to complete this development even if there is lack of grants or local government support in the coming months.

The club are committed to growing and developing their members and the community.

The Rasharkin club issued the following statement on Monday:

Yesterday marked a momentous event in the history of our club with the Official Opening of our 4G. Weather warnings were quashed as Dreen was sun-baked for the vast majority of the day.

We were privileged to have GAA President, (Uachtarán) Larry McCarthy as well as Ulster GAA Vice President, Michael Geoghegan and Official Antrim GAA Treasurer, Donal Murphy.

It was a proud and heart-warming moment to see Larry and our own Club President, Dan McKay Senior cut the Blue and Yellow ribbon to officially open the pitch and witness the droves of young boys and girls run onto the 4G. We thank Larry for his very poignant speech and appreciate the time that he and our other special guests dedicated afterwards for chats and the all-important photos.

Thanks also to our Contracts team who spent endless hours planning and constructing the fantastic facility. These include Joe Carey, Paul Hasson, Gerard McKeague (Creagh Concrete) and Sean Campbell (Sports Ground Specialists).

We would like to thank our Comhaltas group (Brian, Steven, Niamh and Cara) for providing the Traditional Music set that was enjoyed by everyone.

We like to thanks all our club members in the lead up to the opening of the pitch for all the hard work and preparation.

Although it is near impossible to mention everyone who played a part in preparing the grounds, special mention goes to Mark McFerran who gave up much of his free time and labour to paint the hall, changing rooms and dugouts. As you will all agree, Mark and Tommy did an exceptional job.