Saturday the 15th July 2017 will read as an historic day for Clonard GAA. There’s being a few of those days over the past couple of years, the purchasing of land, the turning of the sod, and the opening of the walking track, but last Saturday saw the future of the club have the honour and privilege of playing the first matches in the new facility as the Under 8s and Under 10s played a cross county blitz to mark the opening of the new playing areas.
Over 150 children in 14 teams, from 7 clubs across 5 counties played gaelic football in a wonderful atmosphere in the new grounds on a warm July Saturday morning. While the children enjoyed the games all the parents and supporters looked on in awe and delight as the morning stirred emotions for many. For some of their parents who plied their football skills on O’Donovan’s field the contrast of the surroundings could not be starker as Clonard GAA can now finally boast of a modern GAA facility.
The crowd gathered shortly after 10 a.m. but preparations had been ongoing long before that, as juvenile goalposts were brought in, grass cut and collected, marquee erected, and pitches marked out. With the car park full and supporters in place the first whistles sounded at 10.30 a.m. and a new era had commenced. The boys and girls of Clonard, Kinnegad, The Downs, Ferbane, Edenderry, Kilcock, and Grattan Gaels (Longford) showed off their football skills on the carpet surface.
Each team played their three matches under the usual go-games format and rules, in such an exciting atmosphere that the laughs and shouts may have been heard from the neighbouring counties. Club Chairman Joe Gannon and wife Mary were among the many proud supporters in attendance and they had the additional pleasure of watching their grandson Jake lining out with Kilcock Under 8’s.
As the games finished shortly after 12 pm all the children gathered for a group photograph that will be cherished and admired on the walls of many homes for years to come. All that was left was to adjourn to the marquee for refreshments, generously provided and served by the parents as usual, with all the talk over tea and coffee predictably centering on the fine surface and this wonderful focal point of the community.
Clonard GAA would like to extend it’s sincere gratitude to everyone involved on the day and in developing the fine facility, to the travelling teams, parents, members, sponsors and committees of the club, buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil libh go léir
