Significant improvements on the way for Ballyhooly Community Field

Accommodating as it does Gaelic Games, tennis, scouts, walkers and children, Ballyhooly Community Field can be accurately described as ' the heartbeat of the village'. Impressive and all as it is, there's still room for improvement and plans are an advanced stage to upgrade and enhance the amenity.

In summary, it's proposed to re-lay one of the pitches with a sand based surface, install floodlights, improve parking and replace existing chainlink fencing with professional spec 'ball catching' nets.

These plans were outlined at a public gathering in the community field gym on Wednesday, 10th May. At the meeting, local man, John Hanrahan, spoke about the importance of investment in the community field. Regarding how the new developments will be paid for, he pointed to a recenty secured Sports Capital Grant of €146,000, support from TOMAR (a fund set up by the late Tom Cavanagh), a loan from Clann Credo (an organisation that provides loans to community groups) and the backing of Cork County Council, who will pay for the road widening and new car parking spaces (situated outside the community field). As is to be expected, there will be a shortfall, which will have to be made up.

The new floodlights, on the 'inside' pitch (adjacent to tennis courts) are being installed by McSherry Lighting (represented on the night by Neil McSherry), while the new drainage system for the pitch is in the hands of specialist contractors, the Kerry based, Kelly Brothers (represented on the night by Sean Kelly). Both men provided the exact details of what's involved, these well established companies were also able to point to examples of their work in other parts of the county and country.

'SOME PAIN'

As with any major infrastructural project, there will be some inconvenience to community field users - most notably the closure of 'the inside pitch' for the duration of works (12 months approx.) and a shortening of the community walk way. It's important to point out that both the community playground and tennis courts will remain open.

LOOKING AHEAD

Having been extensively researched, it's expected that the improvement works will be carried out to a very high standard. When complete, these upgrades will further enhance Ballyhooly Community Field, which is a valuable, widely used and very well run community facility.

(Pic: John Ahern) Some of those who were at the Ballyhooly Community Field development plans meeting - Laoise Ahern and Grace O’Connell (girls), Therese Holland, Edel Leahy, Emer Buckley, Maureen Cahill and Margaret Twomey.

(Pic: John Ahern) John Hanrahan (right) chatting with contractors, Neil McSherry (McSherry Lighting) and Sean Kelly (Kelly Brothers Pitches) at the community field meeting in Ballyhooly.