LUCAN Sarsfields GAA Club were acknowledged for the work carried out at their grounds at the 12th Lock by scooping The Echo ‘Club Development of the Year’ trophy.
The Lucan club have had a busy year constructing their new all weather-facility at their headquarters on the Newcastle Road. The project cost in the region of one million euro and was only opened on Friday evening and will be of huge benefit to their underage and senior teams. There was a huge demand for an all-weather facility at the club with membership increasing by 140% from 2000 to 2009 - with 1,680 enrolled at the club this year.

The number of teams has also doubled with 68 sides entering into competitions this season compared to 30 teams in 2000. Due to the large increase in membership, it was imperative that the club construct an all-weather facility and members decided to go ahead with the project in February. The clubs' Development Committee appreciated the demands for such a facility to allow its members train at its home pitch in the 12th Lock, instead of travelling to other venues such as Celbridge, Tallaght and local schools.

The scope of the club’s project was to construct a small playing all-weather pitch with a synthetic grass surface with floodlights and perimeter fencing to be used by juvenile teams for training. The club also upgraded their senior pitch with a sand based all-weather surface installed at the venue.
During the following few months, Sarsfields went through many obstacles including Sports Capital Grant Approval, GAA Central Approval, Planning Permission and application for a bank loan. Despite the economic climate, a fundraising draw, that was orgainsed by a team of club volunteers, was launched in June and had many novel events including online entry and roadshows in various venues in Lucan.

Amazingly, the club sold 3,400 tickets for the draw at 100 euro each, raising in excess of 250, 000 euro profit for the project. Work commenced soon after and was supervised by club members on a voluntary basis and is just near completion The new facility allows the club to play gaelic games all year around by teams of all ages in all codes – football, hurling, ladies football and camogie and is now available to local schools. The grounds are now very accessible following a recent upgrade of the road from Lucan Village and the route is serviced with footpaths and lighting, making it safe for pedestrians and cyclists.

On the playing front, the club won the U21 Hurling Championship in January for the first time  while the senior hurlers reached the Senior Championship semi-finals and the Division One League Final. They won the Minor 'B' Football Champion-ship while their ladies footballers clinched the Junior 'C' Football Championship. The clubs' camogie section has gone from strength to strength over the past few seasons and this year they won either a league or runners-up medals from U10s right through to U14s. The club fielded two juvenile camogie teams at each grade with their U14 side taking second place in the championship.

The boys U14 hurlers won the Division Three Féile while the U16s finished runners-up in the championship. “The successful completion of the project, in these very difficult times, is sheer testament to the commitment of the club members and the wider Lucan community to work together for the development of our community,” said Lucan Club Chairman Paul Stapleton. “We are thrilled to be recognised by The Echo and Sports Partnership and it’s a great way to round off the year,”

“The facility is a big step forward for the Lucan area and is also a big boost for the local schools. The first game was played on the pitch on Friday and we got a great response. We really enjoyed the Sports Awards evening and it was great to be amongst such great local sporting talent,” added Paul.

The project development plan was led by Sean O'Conghaile, Vice Chairman and the Project Financing was led by Eoghan Williams, Club Treasurer. The clubs moto is – Ní neart go cur le chéile.

 

Photos Courtesy of the Echo