Gorey Hockey Club takes a step closer to its new training ground
PLANS SUBMITTED FOR ALL-WEATHER TRAINING FACILITY
Gorey Hockey Club is one step closer to having its own training ground as the committee has submitted a planning application to Wexford County Council.
The club is 15 years without a home to call its own and is seeking permission to construct a €300,000 all-weather playing facility, floodlighting, fencing, car park and associated hard and soft landscaping at Creagh.
The club secured 2.9 hectares from Wexford County Council last year, which it will take on a 25-year term lease, and since then has tirelessly been fundraising for the Astroturf pitch and car park.
Chairman of Gorey Hockey Club Martyn Veitch said the proposed developments consists of three phases: Phase one will be the initial groundworks, laying of the all-weather Astroturf pitch, installation of a porta cabin for changing rooms and fencing around the site; phase two will be the installation of pitch side lighting; and phase three will be the construction of a club house.
‘Phase one is estimated to cost around €300,000,’ said Martyn. ‘The club has a fundraising target of €150,000 with the remainder of the required funds coming from Sports Capital Grants, LEADER and a contribution from Wexford County Council.’
The development of the Astroturf pitch will be a shared facility with the schools in the area such as Creagh College, St Joseph’s NS and Gorey Educate Together, and will also be available for community use. The pitch will be suitable for many different types of sports including soccer, hockey, bowls, disability sports, community groups and more.
As it’s located at the entrance to St Joseph’s NS, the gates will have to be moved to accommodate the development. The car park will be available for use by school parents as parking is currently very limited in the area.
Gorey Hockey Club has been without a home for over a decade and train at various locations including Craanford and Enniscorthy. They currently have 160 junior members and a senior ladies’ team but without a home they have struggled to grow.
The Hockey Club has raised €50,000 so far and has a number of exciting fundraising projects to come, including the Beat 102-103 Courtown Colour Run.
‘We hope that the people of Gorey will support all our fundraising efforts in the future,’ added Martyn.
The Colour Run is a family fun 5km run in Courtown, which will take place on Saturday, July 7, at 11.30 a.m. It is not a timed run and there is no winner. Details and tickets can be found at www.courtowncolourrun.com