South Mayo GAA club announces ambitious development plans
It was standing room only inside the packed pavilion at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Sunday evening last as Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA launched exciting new Clann Róba development plans, writes Patrick Hennelly.
This marks the dawn of an exciting new era for the club, and it was clear from the large attendance that the future is certainly bright.
Fittingly, the club added yet more silverware to their growing list of honours on the day of the launch as earlier in the afternoon, the Ballinrobe Under 14 B girls team were crowned Mayo LGFA Division Six league champions after defeating Belmullet in the final at Bekan.
In 2023, Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA fielded 29 teams, played 275 competitive games and held 760 training sessions – staggering figures of which they club are justifiably proud.
However, the current facilities bear the weight of the growing usage and the club has just one playing pitch at Flanagan Park which is struggling with wetter winters.
Also, the changing facilities are inadequate, particularly for females, and the sanitary facilities are also poor. The club currently has no gym in the ground, no all-weather facility, and no space for team meetings and group gatherings.
In order for the club’s players to maximise their potential, proper facilities are needed.
The Clann Róba Development aims to transform Flanagan Park (the home of Ballinrobe GAA & LGFA Club) into a state-of-the-art facility.
The project earmarks the following: transformation of the four acres of land purchased beside Flanagan Park into a full-size, sand-based grass pitch; construction of a new clubhouse that will provide additional dressing rooms, a multi-function room to facilitate team/club meetings and social gatherings, a press/commentary box, a modern kitchen, and appropriate toilet facilities for all; construction of a new gym to facilitate athletic development; and development of a new enclosed astroturf pitch for warm-up and high-intensity drills, plus enhanced entrance and parking facilities.
Major projects like this don’t come cheap and it is estimated that this project will cost €1,000,000. The club hopes to commence work on this major project towards the end of 2024 and that it will be completed in 2027.
To make this project a reality, multiple sources of funding will need to be put in place. Every public funding opportunity will be pursued and all other potential revenue avenues will be explored.
There are donation options available in order for the club to raise funds and they are as follows: Clann Róba Patrons – patrons will have their names published on the Clan Róba Patrons’ Wall – a permanent feature on the exterior of the new clubhouse – for a minimum of €10 per week for two years (payments can also be made in full at the start (€1,000) or in other instalments, for example monthly or yearly, while those who donate a second €10 for two years will get another line on the wall); All-Star Teams – members will have their names published on permanent All-Star Walls at the entrances to the two pitches, and will also be included on the Clann Róba Patrons Wall, at a cost to avail of €5,000 for one wall or €10,000 for two walls; naming rights – companies wishing to have their name linked with any part of the development, such as the gym or multi-function room, can contact the club chairperson John Sweeney at (087) 2516744 (Flanagan Park will remain the overall name of the club’s facilities, while it has been confirmed that the main pitch will be called the Tim Kelly Group Pitch).
Anyone who wishes to donate to this major project should visit www.ballinrobegaaclub.com/clann-roba-development.
The Clann Róba Development Committee consists of: John Flannelly, Martin Murphy (joint chairpersons), Annette Conway, Gerry Donnelly, Sarah Gibbons, Denise Horan, Liam Horan, Des May, Paul McElarney, Elaine O’Brien, John Sweeney and Kevin Tuffy. An impressive brochure outlining the Clann Róba development was handed out to those in attendance.
Two big announcements made towards the end of the launch on Sunday, with confirmation that €203,000 had already been pledged to the Clann Róba Development, and that Tim Kelly Group Mechanical and Electrical had come on board as sponsor of the main pitch (see above).
Club chairperson John Sweeney said he was enthused by the large turnout for the launch and hopes to see work on this new project begin in September.
He commented: “It is a huge project for us to take on board but this will set up the club for decades to come. Everything that we are looking for is needed now, and unfortunately we are way behind when it comes to facilities at the moment. They were fine back in the 1980s but that is 40 years ago, and we have to step up to the mark.
“The racecourse here in Ballinrobe is a prime example of what can be done with the right people behind it.
“Our goal is to get this project complete in the shortest time as possible and we hope to have this completed in three years’ time. We hope to start work on this project in September of this year.”