Kilmessan GAA club's walk on the bright side
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Paddy Horan, chairman, Kilmessan HC, with Thomas Duignan, at the walking track unveiling. (Rght), Meghan and Shannen Thynne, and Gillian Hannan, Trim, with sheltered baby James Hannan.Image 2 of 7
Gillian Hannon, Trim, with sheltered baby James Hannan.Image 3 of 7
Meghan and Shannen Thynne and Gillian Hannon, Trim, with sheltered baby James Hannan.Image 4 of 7
A section of the new 500m walking track beside the newly developed hurling field.Image 5 of 7
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Gillian Hannan with baby James, and Aidan and Fintan Mangan.Kilmessan’s GAA clubs have opened a new community facility at its Ringlestown grounds, an all-weather, illuminated walkway.
The local hurling and camogie clubs held an open day recently to showcase the new facility, which will be open to all members of the community, once they have paid a walking track membership.
The open day marked the completion of Phase One of the redevelopment of the Donnelly Loughran Memorial Park, first opened just over 50 years ago, in 1969.
The redevelopment included the levelling, draining, widening, resurfacing, and slight relocation of the main pitch, the installation of a new electronic scoreboard, and the provision of substantial additional parking.
The redevelopment also includes the all-weather, rubber-based, illuminated walking track, which will spread the benefits of using the Ringlestown facility beyond the hurlers and camogie players to the wider community.
Paddy Horan paid tribute to the local community for rallying behind the project, through fundraising ‘Oskars’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ events, and combined with Sports Capital Grants and Leader funding, the €330,000 project came to fruition. Lands adjoining the GAA grounds were acquired for extension.
At the open day, Paddy Horan paid tribute to Thomas Duignan, Tony Grimes, Jim Harlin, Conor Martin and Kevin Byrne, who held many late night meetings over the project.
A second phase of redevelopment is to follow. This will see the creation of a new floodlit training pitch and provision for the extension of the walking track. It is currently at the design stage.
The 500 metre track is permeable, weather resistant, long lasting, hard wearing and will be low maintenance. It will accommodate walking and running on a non-slip, soft fall surfaces, and will be suitably lit all year round. There will be barriers and fence protection from cars, footballs, and sliotars.
Due to its shock absorption quality, it is suitable for the elderly or infirm suffering from long term joint problems and orthopaedic conditions such as arthritis of the ankles, knees, hip or back. It will also be ideal for exercise following knee or hip replacement.
All members will be issued with a wrist band to allow access onto the track. The fee to become a member of the walking track for the rest of this year will be €10.
From January 2021, membership will be €40 for the year. There are some guidelines in place to ensure the health and safety of all users of the facilities and to protect the long-term condition of the walking track. These are well signed at the club grounds. The track will be open from 7am to 10pm.
See www.kilmessangaa.clubifyapp.com for details of how to sign up.