Southern Gaels launches exciting plans to build their own ‘Field of Dreams’

“If we build it, they will come.” A variation of a famous phrase from the film ‘Field of Dreams’, it was uttered more than once when Southern Gaels held an impressive launch of its plans to build new facilities.

The launch, held in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel recently, outlined the club’s plans for a greenfield site of almost 13 acres in Fardrum, Athlone.

Southern Gaels assistant treasurer Pat O’Neill, who has been involved with the club for a number of years, opened proceedings as the club launched ‘Project SG2030’.

Pat described Southern Gaels as a “small club with a very big footprint” as it draws players from a wide hinterland. In addition to Athlone, the club has players from such areas as Drumraney, Tang, Tubberclair, Mount Temple, Castledaly and Moate.

“This is a mammoth, long term project and it will be a case of all hands on deck,” said Pat.

The hurling fraternity across the country was still buzzing after last month's truly magnificent All-Ireland final and it was no different at this function. Indeed, there were plenty of Clare and Cork connections in the room, with Ollie Baker, an All-Ireland medal winner with Clare in 1995 and 1997, among the attendance.

And despite his native Cork having been dramatically edged out by Clare, Southern Gaels secretary Martin Geary also reflected on that thrilling decider, in which “skill levels were off the charts”. He quipped that the best goal ever in an All-Ireland final (scored by Cork’s Robert Downey) was followed by a better one (from Clare’s Tony Kelly). Describing hurling as “the oldest and fastest field sport in the world”, Martin noted that it is on UNESCO’s list as an activity of “intangible” cultural value.

Turning his attention to the Southern Gaels project, Martin admitted that he thought the club “would never pull this off”. Martin noted that hurling has been played in Athlone since the 1880s, with Athlone winning four Westmeath senior hurling titles in the early years of the 20th century. Across South Westmeath, there were hurling clubs called Coosan, Drumraney, Moate and Walderstown.

In 1973, Southern Gaels was formed by the amalgamation of Athlone and Walderstown hurling clubs. The contribution of those involved in the formation of the club was lauded. Frank Young, Mick Ward, Bill Stacey, Joe Ryan, Ken O’Neill, Brendan McCormack, Dan Hogan and Patsy Norton were on the first club committee.

Martin recalled that at one stage, Southern Gaels didn’t have enough players to field at some of the underage grades and joined up with the Ballymore-based Fr Dalton’s. But it’s a different story in recent years with a significant increase in numbers at underage level.

When the ballwall was built at Páirc Chiaráin in 2016, the club had a target of 100 members. It now has 248 youth members and 159 adult members. With the Athlone area projected to grow in population to around 30,000 by 2030, Martin said the club needs to “improve standards and participation levels”.

Martin said the planned new facilities showed the club has “big dreams” and their aim is to improve the standard of hurling and camogie players in Athlone and surrounding areas. He pointed out that multiple training locations has been an issue for the club. In addition to the Páirc Chiaráin facilities it shares with Athlone GAA, Southern Gaels conduct training sessions in the Marist College, Garrycastle GAA, Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí and Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

Stressing that the club needs purpose-built facilities to improve skill levels among players, Martin said that the club would follow a “yellow and maroon brick road” to Fardrum, to a site of 12.9 acres, about two kilometres from Kilmartin’s service station.

This greenfield site, close to exits 8 and 7 of the M6 motorway, would give the club a “blank canvas”, said Martin. The new location is closer to many of the club’s feeder areas and would take the pressure off parents in terms of bringing their children to multiple locations, he stated.

It is planned that the new development will include two pitches (a grass full sized pitch and an astro turf pitch), a clubhouse, four dressing rooms, a walking track, a ballwall, a playground and a car park with 230 parking spaces and eventually a gym.

Martin said the club will have to work hard to make the project a reality, and there were inspiring quotes from the likes of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali in an effort to rally the troops for what lies ahead.

“Great oaks from little acorns grow,” said Martin, adding that the new development would be a legacy for all involved in hurling and camogie in South Westmeath.

Southern Gaels chairperson Kevin Jordan noted that hurling has been played in the greater Athlone area since the foundation of the GAA. He said the development of the new facilities - “the next chapter” of Southern Gaels - would ensure the continuation of hurling and camogie for the next 140 years.

Having been involved in the club for over 40 years, Kevin described this project as “a defining moment” and “the most exciting development in the history of the club”.

“We are more than a club, we are a community and a way of life,” he said.

Kevin thanked all the clubs and organisations who have helped Southern Gaels over the years, particularly sister club Athlone GAA, whose facilities the club will continue to use in the coming years.

Describing the project as “a monumental venture”, Kevin said it will take vision, planning and considerable finance to make it a reality, adding that a spirit of togetherness will drive it forward.

Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall arrived on stage to the tune of ‘Spancil Hill’ in a nod to his Clare roots. He said it was “a privilege” to be in attendance on this “historic occasion”.

Frank said these are “brilliant times for the club” but warned that there would be “many difficult days and long nights to come” before the new facilities would come to fruition. Describing the club’s rate of growth as “phenomenal”, he said it needed a new base.

Mescall said providing financial assistance is beyond Westmeath GAA at present, considering its own major project to establish training facilities for county teams. However, he said the county board will provide advice and any other support it can. He advised the club to avail of any grants and other funding sources available, also urging club officials to “beg and pester” local politicians for assistance.

Caroline Carton, vice chairperson of the Westmeath Camogie Board, said they were delighted to welcome Southern Gaels into the Westmeath camogie fold last year. Ms Carton said she was looking forward to returning to Athlone in the future to see the new facilities when they are built.

Southern Gaels hurler Cian McCarthy, a member of the Westmeath senior panel this year, was also among the speakers. Cian noted that his father, Cork native Kieran McCarthy, won a Junior ‘B’ championship medal with the club alongside some stalwarts present on the night. Cian welcomed the plans to build new facilities, saying that would be of “enormous benefit to our club”.

Róisín Ní Dhuibhir, who began playing hurling as a youngster with Southern Gaels, said she then spent “many happy years” playing camogie with Drumraney as Southern Gaels had no camogie teams.

The logistics of continuing to play for Drumraney when she went to college became difficult and Róisín was delighted to see Southern Gaels field camogie teams. She was proud to be part of the first Southern Gaels adult camogie team. Noting the demand for pitches at Páirc Chiaráin, Róisín said the new facilities would provide better opportunities for hurlers and camogie players all across South Westmeath.

Southern Gaels treasurer Eoin Crosbie was introduced by Kevin Jordan as “an fear airgid” and considering he’s also the financial controller at the Sheraton, the description rang true. Eoin remarked that he had an “easy enough run” of being treasurer for the past two years, but this was now going to change as the club had to be become “financially fit”.

Having three kids involved with the club, Eoin said he was excited about the project. However, he warned that his job was “to inject a bit of reality,” to proceedings, adding that the project will only happen with significant help from a lot of people.

He mentioned sponsorship options with various corporate packages available to business entities (from bronze up to platinum), while a new club development weekly lotto will be launched in October.

'Project SG2030' timeline - 2024: Sale agreed on site, planning permission application. 2025: “Turning of the sod” and preliminary work. 2026: The first pitch and walking track. 2027: The second pitch. 2028: The clubhouse. 2029: Ballwall. 2030: Project completion.