The Faithful Fields: Offaly launch centre of excellence project

There was an impressive turnout from the Offaly GAA community on Thursday at Croke Park as association president Aogán Ó Fearghail launched The Faithful Fields project to provide the county with a centre of excellence for the development of the men's and women's games, which will be situated at Kilcormac.

Event compere, All-Ireland winner and pundit Michael Duignan told the gathering that of the €2,250,000 cost, €750,000 needed to be raised - the balance coming through grants from the GAA and public bodies. The good news was that €381,000 had already been pledged but that there would be a deadline of the end of next month.

Any shortfall in the fund-raising would result in amendments to the project, as Duignan stressed that the development would be debt free.

Among those supporting the project yesterday was Shane Lowry, son of Offaly All-Ireland football medallist Brendan and ranked number 18 golfer in the world. According to Duignan a major fund-raiser is being organised with Lowry for next year.

“Well, Michael called me a few weeks ago - literally, a month ago,” said Lowry. “Was out doing a thing in Esker Hills and he came out and spoke to me. Then I met him for lunch a couple of weeks ago in Dublin and he went through, that they are building this facility and everyone knows the need in Offaly for this, and he wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help.

“We are in the very early stages of trying to do something, we are not talking about something that is going to raise 20 or 30 grand; we want something that will raise over 100 grand. That is the only way I will do it. I am not going to do something that won’t raise enough money.

“Look, everyone in Ireland knows my love for GAA and my love for Offaly, and my hometown Clara. If there is anything I can do to help out, I told him I would do my best to do it.

“I am quite busy between now and Christmas but between now and when I start back in January, we will try and finalise something, maybe for the middle of next year.”