Back in January, Clough-Ballacolla revealed exciting plans of a improve their training facilities in Clough.
A Laois GAA club have unveiled plans to build two brand new pitches, ball wall and a training area.
Clough-Ballacolla, who have their home grounds in Ballacolla, intend to construct a brand new facility in Clough.
The two new pitches will include a full size adult pitch and a juvenile pitch.
Before Christmas, the club unveiled plans for a fundraising drive and this month, they submitted a planning application with Laois County Council.
The total cost of the project is estimated at €300,000 and Phase 1 will also include an upgrade and completion of flood lighting in the existing pitch in Ballacolla.
According to those behind the project, the club currently has 10 hurling teams and 7 camogie teams.
This may increase with the possibility of a fourth adult men’s team and minor camogie team in coming years.
Currently, the majority of Clough-Ballacolla’s juvenile teams are only able to get the pitch for one slot per week.
In the case of some of the juvenile teams, this slot must be used for Go Games/matches allowing no other time during the week to train.
Chairperson Oonagh Maher said: “Over the past number of years, our club has grown.
“Under increasing pressure to expand our current pitch facilities due to the increasing demand on our current grounds in Ballacolla, and following the recent approval from our members to proceed with the purchase of a second facility in Clough, a development group has been formed to outline the plan for the upgrade and development of our facilities for the coming years.
“Our long term goal will be to develop and maintain both GAA grounds, the new development in Clough and our current grounds in Ballacolla.
“These grounds will not only offer a shared facility for all hurling and camogie clubs, both adult and juvenile, within the parish but will also provide pitches for their adjacent national schools.
“The initial phase of the development will see the construction of an adult and juvenile pitch in Clough and the upgrade and completion of the flood lighting in Ballacolla.
“While there will be two separate grounds, there will only ever be one club.”
SEE ALSO – Check out all of our 2021 Remembered stories here
