Ballyhea basks in sunshine for star-studded Cúl Camp
IT was the turn of Ballyhea GAA club to hold their annual Kellogs Cúl Camp last week for their underage players to improve their skills in hurling, camogie and Gaelic football.
They were mentored by the more experienced older players over the duration of week-long camp, which was held in brilliant weather at their magnificent complex.
The young players were thrilled to meet Alan Cadogan, the Cork senior star and Man of the Match in the Munster Senior Hurling Final at Semple Stadium the previous Sunday, and also James Keating from Kildorrery, who is the vice-captain of the victorious Cork Minor team. He accompanied Alan when they dropped in to Ballyhea to watch the players being put through their paces.
The Cork stars were met on arrival by members of the Ballyhea Juvenile Club, David Garvey, John Mortell, John Foley and Jimmy Codd. They showed the visitors the completed part of their ongoing development at the field that includes new dressing rooms, new public toilets, referees’ room and a covered hurling alley, and upstairs area suitable for a gym.
“We have secured a sports capital grant, a loan from Croke Park and a loan from Community Finance Ireland to finance the majority of this development; however, we need to fund raise to meet the shortfall in the cost of the building,” said John Mortell.
The method they have employed to meet this financial commitment is a ‘Buy a Block’ scheme at a cost of €250 per block. “We will be holding an open day from 11.30pm to 1.30pm at the club on Sunday, July 23 so that people can see the new development and also where their money is being spent,” added John.
On completion of the building a plaque with the names of all those who subscribed to the block scheme will be recorded on the plaque.
All of the club’s previous loans for development projects have been cleared, mainly due to the local support for the Cork GAA Clubs Draw, from which almost 50% of the money raised is returned to the clubs. This is then used solely for developing club facilities.
Previous developments at the club has seen the addition of a second playing surface and extended facilities at their original club house.