OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF KNOCKNAGOSHEL GAA CLUB DEVELOPMENT DRAW

AT DIVANE`S GARAGE CASTLEISLAND ON SAT 19^TH April

Knocknagoshel GAA is entering Phase 2 of the development of its grounds at Willie Walsh Park.  The original development began in 1998 when the site was acquired from Mr Richard Walsh at Meenbanivane  where an all weather playing pitch was developed, subsequently, The Knocknagoshel Sports and Recreation  Association was established in 2002 involving G.a.a. officers and members of other community groups forming a Company to administer the health and recreation resource. This facility has been a great success and is widely used. The official opening took place in 2004. The present development includes the sports and recreation centre with a gymnasium, changing rooms, weights room, Pilates/aerobics area and sauna room.  The playing pitch is surrounded by a walking/ jogging track and spectator stand, all wheelchair accessible making it a facility for the use of the whole community in Knocknagoshel and the surrounding areas. The cost of providing Phase 1 was over € 450,000 of which a current debt of € 20,000 is outstanding.

The focus of the draw is to paying off the outstanding debt and start Phase 2 development which will consist of providing flood lighting to the playing pitch, walking area and resurfacing the walking / jogging track. It will include upgrading of the current playing surface and the development of an all weather training area at the side of the main pitch, providing dugouts and an electronic scoreboard as well. These improvements are essential because of great demands being placed on the facility. The lighting is required so as the playing surfaces and the Walking area can be more widely used during the hours of darkness. The club have two senior teams, a minor team and a very active Coiste na Nog fielding teams from under ten to under Sixteen. The results of the great work being done at  Coiste na Nog and Minor level can be seen with Padraig Reidy and Lorraine Scanlan currently on  Kerry Minor Teams.

 We are delighted to have Padraig Reidy [Kerry Minor] to launch the draw and would like to thank Denis Divane for making these wonderful facilities available today.

The Club is committed to providing the best facilities for the community. This is an ambitious programme of work and the Club is hoping for the involvement of the whole community in the fundraising initiative.

Details of the above draw are as follows:

1^st Prize:         Volkswagon Golf (Car supplied by Divane’s Garage, Castleisland)

2^nd Prize:        €1,000

3^rd Prize:         €750

4^th Prise:        €500

5^th Prize:         €200

6^th Prize:         €250

Draw will take place in the clubrooms on St. Stephen’s Day (Friday, 26^th December, 2008).

Tickets €50 each.

Finance Committee consist of the following:

Chairman; Thomas O Connor,

Secretary: Jim Murphy,

Treasurers: Ellen Barrett

                   Thomas O Connor,

PRO; Liam Bell

Committee: Noel Brosnan, Danny Walsh, Kathleen Curtin, Michael Murphy,

Eamonn Walsh, Michelle Roche, Con Reidy, Tom Greaney Mary Scanlan,

Dan Neligan.