A major collaboration in Tipperary town to deliver a new shared sports facility is almost complete. The Abbey School, Arravale Rovers GAA Club & Arravale Ladies Gaelic Football Club combined resources to deliver a Floodlit AstroTurf Pitch measuring 88m x 55m on the Abbey grounds, between the new PE Hall and the railway line, next door to Arravale Rovers GAA Grounds.
The project is described as a “win win” for both school and club and will see an investment of almost €570,000. Funding for the project was raised by a number of fundraising events such as a Golf Classic, donations from past pupils of the Abbey School and the wider community and support from the Erasmus Smith Trust Fund, the Tomar Trust in addition to support from the Sports Capital Programme.
The installation of the pitch is now almost complete with work on the lighting system yet to be completed. Premier Pitches from Cashel, operated by the Cummins family, are the main contractors for the project.
Abbey School Principal John Kiely says the new facility could not be delivered were it not for the support of the Arravale Rovers club and in particular the commitment shown by Paddy Delaney, Eamon O’Dwyer and Bill Gleeson.
Mr Kiely expects that the new facility will be ready for use in the next academic year.
