C of I set to launch development of state-of-the-art hockey pitch
The club are planning to start construction on the state-of-the-art pitch in June and it is anticipated the work will take 14 weeks to complete.
There are only three such pitches in the country, all in Dublin. The Garryduff outfit hope that their development will not only help young players, but will also bring national team training sessions to Cork and possibly international matches as well.
According to development committee spokesperson Helen Lynch, the pitch will be built on a new location within the already extensive Garryduff facility and will thus give the club a much-needed second hockey pitch.
“We’ve been looking at developing a second pitch for the last number of years and as water-based pitches are now demanded for all international competitions, it was decided that this was the way we had to go, even though the expense factor was going to be quite imposing.
“The new pitch will be up-to-the-minute in terms of international standards and we would be hopeful that when it is completed we would host international games on it. Technically it is the best surface around at present and is definitely an investment in the future,” Ms. Lynch added.
The club are actively fund-raising at present ahead of work starting on the €900,000 pitch and they are also hopeful of securing National Lottery funding to help them.
It is intended that contracts for the development will be signed in the next month with actual work on the new pitch starting early in June.
“We see the development being good not only for our club, but also Munster hockey as a whole because it will be a first in the province and a first outside Dublin.”
The development will be a huge technological tour de force and the whole lighting and watering system will be computerised. The watering system is capable of spreading 2,000 gallons of water in just two minutes.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
