Tulsk GAA Club plans for the future
Pictured are the members of the Tulsk GAA pitch fundraising committee (l-r): Cathal McCormack; Joint Treasurer; Lorraine McGarry, Fundraising Committee; Justin Dixon, Joint Treasurer; Siobhan Monaghan, Fundraising Committee, and Haulie O’Rourke, Chairperson.
Tulsk GAA Club is planning for the future by developing a second GAA pitch at its grounds.
Having grown its membership by 68 per cent over the last few years, the club is hoping to cater for an increasing number at teams, which currently stands at 22.
“You can really feel that the whole parish is behind this project. People understand the benefits of a facility like this in a place like Tulsk. We are proud of our place as much as anybody and the response we have received to date only elevates this,” said Cathal McCormack, a member of the fundraising committee.
With the growth of team sports, especially girls’ and ladies’ teams, in recent years, the club took the decision to develop lands that it owns adjacent to the current pitch. The project, which will cost €350,000 to complete, will be ready to use by the summer of 2024. It is seen as a crucial asset that will be a great addition to the whole community.
Tulsk is fortunate that it has a very high participation rate among its underage teams. It is a very big parish geographically, but it is very sparsely populated.
There has been a huge effort in recent years, through coaching in the local schools, to get kids more involved in club activities. The success of that initiative coupled with the increase in the local population, has necessitated the need for a second playing field.
A very successful fundraiser a number of years ago, which raised €100,000, meant that the club was in a position to start work in early spring when the decision was made to proceed with the development. Six local people gave the club interest free loans for three years, totalling another €100,000, which enabled the project to continue. The club was successful in obtaining an eight-year loan from Croke Park for €75,000. The club is currently fundraising locally to fund the balance of the project.
“We are delighted with the response of the local community. As with all fundraisers, you can rely on the usual people to dig in when needed. What is different this time is that we are getting support from different people. It’s great to see,” continued Cathal McCormack.
Anyone who would like to donate to the project can log onto www.tulskgaa.ie for information, or keep an eye on the club’s social channels. Alternatively, contact Cathal McCormack on 086 8065219 or Justin Dixon on 087 6833794 who will be happy to answer any queries.
