Tipperary GAA club plans for new pitch to benefit schools and local community
A busy Tipperary GAA club is looking to expand its facilities by adding an extra pitch, which will serve the whole community, not just the club itself.
St Patrick’s GAA Club in Clonmel have applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to add a new synthetic all-weather pitch with goals, perimeter edge fencing and nets, floodlighting, ball-stop nets, the relocation of existing ball wall, and all associated works at their grounds in Cloneen.
The GAA club currently have a grass pitch and clubhouse on their premises, but need extra space due to the increased uptake in players at the club.
"Due to increasing participation over recent years, particularly with the expanding ladies football club, and camogie club, the existing field is no longer sufficient for their needs,” planning files state.
"There is a big demand for use of the field by the many teams involved, and this can be problematic particularly during wet months when the pitch can become unusable,” agents for the club added.
The new pitch will sit at the club’s boundary with Cloneen National School, allowing for increased access for the school to use the pitch on a daily basis.
"It is proposed to provide a pedestrian access from the school to the GAA grounds at the south east corner of their property, which is located directly beside the access gate to the new facility. This will provide immediate access, and full visibility for supervision from the school grounds to the new facility,” planning files state.
As well as Cloneen National School, Drangan National School, as well as the local Community Games Group and other local groups will have access to the new pitch at St Patrick’s.
This will make the new facility “accessible not just for the GAA club but for the schools and wider community.”
In a submission in support of the planning application, the board of Cloneen National School said that having access to an all-weather pitch will be very beneficial.
"To have an all-weather facility adjacent to our school will be hugely beneficial as the GAA pitch can sometimes be too wet to use during winter months.
"To have this secure, safe, clean facility with easy access from our school will allow us to expand our physical education curriculum,” the school added.
Tipperary County Council are due to decide on the planning application by October 7.