On the 15th September of this year St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass opened their new pitch where President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns was the guest of honour. Years of hard work and fund raising saw faze 1 of the Moneyglass club’s ambitious project reach fruition, a great tribute to all those involved in the development.
Here long serving club member and Saffron Gael contributor, Gary Duffin takes up the story:
In the early 2000’s Gerard Weir, Bridie Scullin and team were all in agreement that we had outgrown our current pitch at Taylorstown Road and we needed to expand.
They started seeking suitable grounds locally and they made the first approach about our new pitch. The plot consists of 16 acres allowing for a couple of pitches, an all-weather pitch, ball wall, changing facilities etc.
In 2014 we had a change of committee and they decided to proceed with the project. Cairde was set up, a grand draw was organised which raised over £410K. A 200 Club raffle raised another £120K and the new grounds were bought.
The hard work was only just beginning as Sean O’Boyle and his committee organised a development committee. Plans were drawn, passed and the work soon got underway.
Terence Duffin, John Graham and J H Kerr were in charge of the works around the field and Pattersons were awarded the contract of making the pitch.
After countless meetings and hours of voluntary labour, we finally got Pitch 1 delivered.
An official opening was held on Sunday 15th September 2024. It was attended by many dignitaries featuring the President of the GAA Jarlath Burns.
All of the community turned out for this special occasion. People of all ages, members young and old. The last pitch was opened in 1975 and many attended both. A Fun Day was arranged to celebrate an achievement done by all of the community without help from any outside organisations.
We have to keep fundraising to build our second pitch, changing facilities etc, and we have to get the next generation on board.
All we ask of people is that we leave the club in a better place to which we found it.
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