Vol 2 Oct 2015 - Pitch Development update

SARSFIELDS GAA CLUB

Newsletter Volume 2, October 2015

Pitch Development Update

Dear Club Member,

Welcome to our 2nd Sarsfields GAA Club Newsletter. This Issue deals exclusively with the progress which is being made with the development of our Sarsfields GAA Pitch.

Having a club pitch that we can call our own has become the top development priority in recent years. In September of 2013 the club decided to develop a pitch close to the site of the Community Centre and pitches in New Inn.

By December of 2013, plans were developed and this paved the way for the purchase of 10½ acre site in February. By March 2014, planning permission was granted for the development. In June of 2014 the €112,000 Sports Capital Grant was secured.

Work commenced on the site in July 2014. This Newsletter tells the story of how things have progressed over the last 12 months.

As a club we are deeply grateful to the Pitch Development Committee and the Club Executive for all their great work in bringing about this huge step forward for the club.

We also wish to say a very special word of thanks to the Project Supervisor and Engineer Joe Keane and Principal Contractor Michael Finnerty Plant Hire for their outstanding professionalism and their commitment to this project which went above and beyond the call of duty.

There will be a further update on progress in the next Newsletter scheduled for November / December.

Le gach deá ghuí,

Sean Fahy

(Chairman Senior G.A.A. Club)

Removal of Trees

Following the granting of planning permission, the next step was the removal of the trees. This started in July 2014, it was a very arduous and messy phase of the project.

It took over a month to complete. The fallen trees were then taken from the site and sold to a great Sarsfields supporter down through the years Mr. P.J. Fahy ECC TEO Cornamona which in turn contributed to the financing of the project.

In the first week of September, 2014 the cut and fill process began with Joe Keane as Supervisor and Engineer and Michael Finnerty Plant Hire as Principal Contractor.

Levelling the Site

The next phase involved the levelling of the site. 90% of this phase was completed before Christmas 2014 with exact levels being completed in spring of this year.

The quality of the material on the site proved to be very beneficial during the initial stages of surface area preparation. It has provided a base for the car-park and spectator areas which is a real bonus and money saver.

Drainage and Top Soil

With the amount of excavation involved, our engineer advised that a settlement period of 6 months would be beneficial. Following that period the final levelling and a top of the range shoring system was put in place.

With drainage complete, the spreading of the top-soil was reapplied. Inclement weather delayed the project for a period before the sand was applied

Wexford Sand Application

When the top-soil had settled, the playing surface was then covered with 1,000 tonnes of Wexford Sand applied by Michael Hyland from Cavan who specialises in the application of sand on pitches. This ensures consistent depth across the pitch surface. It is a premium quality certified sand for playing pitches which has been used on most of the top pitches in Ireland including Croke Park. It should render the playing surface ideal for all weathers. Hence this pitch should be dry during the winter and not too firm during any prolonged dry periods during the summer.

Sarsfields Pitch Development

The Enormous Progress Made

Despite the fact that the months of July and August 2015 were particularly wet, the pace of the project was not hindered..

This was largely due to the careful attention of the engineer Joe Keane and the contractor Michael Finnerty who had ensured that the larger portion of the work was well underway during April and May. In the third week of August the grass seeds were sown and there has been a steady growth since. In the last few weeks it has developed into a high quality, lush surface which will in all probability be ready for use in May/June 2016 (weather conditions permitting during the first half of next year).

Walkway

It is intended to put a concrete path 2 meters wide around the perimeter of the new playing pitch which in turn will link up with a gravel walkway around our site and the existing pitch.

We would like to thank New Inn Community Council for their co-operation and help throughout this project.

A Message from the Sarsfields Pitch Development Committee

The committee is overwhelmed with the level of support it has received to date for their fundraiser, with over 300 donors, both from home and overseas, buying plots for €250 each. This means that 75% of our final target of 400 plots has been reached.

The committee is currently preparing for work to commence on the engraving of the Commemorative /Acknowledgment Stone/Stones that will be positioned in a prominent place on our new Club Grounds. Our task is to make sure all the generous donors are acknowledged as error free as possible.

With this in mind we will be making the up to date list of donors available for scrutiny shortly. The list will be available online on the Sarsfields G.A.A. website/Facebook/twitter or from any one of the Development Committee (listed below). We would encourage every donor to check that their details are correct before engraving commences and to inform any member of the committee of any adjustments.

Anyone intending to purchase a plot should contact any member of the committee as soon as possible.

Michael Cooney (Chairperson)

Michael Kenny (Secretary)

Joe McGrath (Treasurer)

Sean Fahy, Ruth Mulkerrins, Pauline Cooney, Adrian Connaire,

Peter Corcoran, Donal Keane, Gerry Leslie, Michael McGrath,

Gerry Donohue (Turoe), Aidan Donohue, Padraig Kelly,

Fergal Connaire, Cathal Murray, Ollie Fahy, Tom MacLochlainn, Kevin Connaughton, Liam Mulkerrins, Brian Gallagher,

Gerry Donohue (New Inn), Peter Kelly, Kevin Hynes,

Niall/Ronan Quinn, Seamus Doyle (Jnr), Tommy Fox.