St Colums GAA Club

The most notable aspect of Brian Cowen’s opening week as Taoiseach

has been his articulation of community values and his desire to

reconnect people to the place where they live. He has spoken of the need to build on

the individual wealth generated by the Celtic Tiger by increasing volunteerism and

putting the needs of our communities ahead of our own. As a proud member of the

Clare G.A.A. Club in county Offaly, he stressed the pivotal role the parish club

played in his development as a young man. He would therefore be encouraged by the

strong attendance at St. Colums Hall on Saturday last as the club launched it’s major

new development plan – a plan which will serve the rural community of the Kealkill,

Borlin and Mealagh valleys long into the 21^st century.

Club chairman Nellie O’ Leary welcomed all, including distinguished political

representatives and guest speaker, Séan Kelly to the occasion before handing

over to Paudie Palmer who acted as “Fear an Ti” for the night. Paudie

introduced the first speaker, Dan Sullivan of Carriganass, who chartered the

history of the club since it’s formation on the 8^th of December 1970. Details of

the initial ground purchase in 1972 and clubhouse construction in 1976 at a cost of

£30,000 (€230,000 at Current market Value) underlined the debt owed to the founding

fathers of Fr. John Mc Carthy, Matt O Sullivan and Jimmy Crowley among others.

Stories of fundraising efforts in a more difficult economic climate ranging from

beauty queen and baby contests, to bottle top stands and ballroom dances, gave a

flavour of the “muintireas” or Community Commitment at the time.

Interestingly the St. Colums facility has only recently been purchased by the

G.A.A. club from the Community Hall trustees at the time. The €65,000

purchase fund was achieved by €200 per annum direct debit donations by Club

members. Dan gave a succinct summary on the negotiations between both

partners. He paid tribute to the Community Hall trustees while recognising that

the structures put in place in the 1970s were not suitable for the Club in the 21^st

century. The club wanted a title to the property in order to raise grants and

prepare for the present initiative. Dan concluded that the present Club initiative

was not the cause of the “dedicated few” or “somebody else” but the cause of

everybody in the community for the future of their children and their children’s

children.

Bob Ryan, PRO at the Cork County Board was next to address the crowd and

reassured all that the board would not be found wanting in assisting the club in

the future. Further words of support and encouragement come from the

chairman at the West Cork board, Séamus Coakley and vice chairman Danny

Walsh.

Danny Murnane, chairman of the development Committee and the recognised

driving force behind the project was next to address the gathering with the aid

of a slide show and appropriate graphics. He gave a very detailed, informative

and interesting insight into the major undertaking. Danny explained how the

total land holding of 12 acres was more than sufficient to satisfy the club’s

requirements but that a small area had been retained by the trustees and that a

playground would be constructed with the purchase fund.

The plan has been divided into 5 distinct phases. Phase 1 in 2009 will involve a

relocation and sand carpeting of the playing pitches. Phase 2 in 2010 will involve

the renovation of the existing hall and a clubhouse extension. Phase 3 in 2012

will involve the construction of an architecturally designed multi – functional

sports complex. Phase 4 in 2014 will involve the creation of a new entrance and

resurfacing work. Phase 5 due for 2015 will involve floodlighting of the playing

pitches. This ambitious proved has an overall costing at €1.6 million and will be

largely funded by government grants from the Department of Arts, Sports and

Tourism, a grant from Clár rural development as well as national lottery

funding. Unfortunately €250,000 will need to be raised by club volunteers for

the project to come to fruition. Fergal Conlon was given the onerous task of

explaining how this would be achieved. He highlighted how the task ahead was

not insurmountable and had been achieved by numerous West Cork Clubs in the

recent past. The clubs plans are not too dissimilar to those who have proceeded

them and a monster fundraising draw on the Clubs 38^th anniversary on 8^th

December will serve this purpose. The west Cork area has been divided into 77

manageable regions for volunteers to work on.

Séan Kelly concluded affairs by congratulating the club on its initiatve . Having

walked the ground earlier in the evening he stated that the clubs facilities while

ahead of their time in the 1970s were clearly not adequate for the 21^st century.

He also congratulated the club on its rich heritage and tradition but felt the

launch night was not essentially a celebration “but a call to arms for all in the

community to put the shoulder to the wheel” He furthermore called on the

G.A.A. s president elect Christy Clooney to come down to the club during the

first phase of development to view the great work done in this small corner of

his native county.

The night ended with welcome refreshments and entertainment by Deirdre Archbold

from “ You’re a Star”. All of this to the particular delight of the young stars of the

clubs bright future.