Works to get underway on Roscommon school’s new astroturf pitch

A sod-turning ceremony on Monday morning next will mark the official start of construction on CBS Roscommon’s all-weather astroturf pitch.

The sod-turning ceremony will take place at 10.am, and the Roscommon Town school said it was “proud and delighted” to announce the start of works on the project.

In a statement, Roscommon CBS said: “After years of planning, hope and hard work, this is the moment our whole community has been waiting for — the day the dream of a first-class playing surface for CBS Roscommon finally becomes a reality on the ground.

“The ceremony will bring together students, staff, past pupils, sponsors, parents and friends of the school to mark this historic milestone. The new facility, measuring 80m x 55m, will provide a first-class, all-weather playing surface not only for CBS Roscommon but for Roscommon LGFA and the wider community, with whom this project has been developed in close partnership from the very outset.

“This is, without exaggeration, a once-in-a-generation project for our school and our county — a facility that will serve current students, past pupils, and generations of young people yet to come, in every kind of weather, for decades ahead.

The school has extended a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the project.

“None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity, goodwill and belief shown by our sponsors, past pupils, parents, local businesses and friends of CBS Roscommon. Every donation, no matter its size, every letter of support, and every act of encouragement along the way has brought us to this point, and for that we are profoundly and sincerely grateful. This project has been, from the very start, a true community effort — and seeing work begin on site on Monday is a tribute to everyone who has stood behind it.

“We want every single supporter to know that their contribution has been seen, valued and deeply appreciated. This pitch belongs to all of you as much as it does to the school,” it said.

However, CBS Roscommon said the journey wasn't over.

“While Monday marks a wonderful and hugely significant milestone, we want to be honest and clear with our community: although work is now underway on site, our fundraising journey is not yet complete. A project of this scale and ambition carries significant costs, and continued support will be essential to see it through to completion and to ensure the finished facility is one our whole community can be proud of for generations to come.

“We are asking our community to stay with us for this final push. Every contribution, however big or small, brings us closer to delivering a facility that will benefit thousands of young people across Roscommon for years to come.” The school issued an appeal a plea to is past pupils, parents and wider community.

“We are appealing directly to our past pupils, current parents, students and all friends of CBS Roscommon: if you have not yet had the opportunity to support this project, please consider doing so now. If you have already given generously, and so many of you have, please know how deeply that generosity is valued — and if you are in a position to do more, or to encourage others in your circle to get involved, we would be enormously grateful.

“This is a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave a lasting mark on CBS Roscommon, on Roscommon LGFA, and on the wider Roscommon community for generations to come. Every past pupil who ever togged out on our pitches, every parent whose child has walked our corridors, every business that has benefited from this school's graduates — this is your chance to give something back that will outlast us all. We are asking you, sincerely and humbly, to become a valued sponsor of this project, in whatever way you can.

“No gesture of support is too small, and no act of generosity will be forgotten. Together, we can finish what we have started," said the school.

Members of the public, sponsors and supporters of the campaign are warmly invited to attend Monday's sod-turning ceremony at the school’s grounds on the Circular Road ”to mark this proud moment together”.

To support the project, donations can be made via iDonate or by visiting www.cbsroscommon.ie. Keep an eye out too for a QR code where donations can also be made.