To Bring Rugby And Athletics Home To Carrigaline In 2022
Carrigaline Rugby Football Club (RFC) and Carrigaline Athletics Club (AC) have formed a partnership to develop a new multifunction sports facility at a 12-acre, greenfield site in Kilnagleary, Carrigaline.
This will, for the first time, allow both clubs to have a home venue. The proposed development will be constructed over several phases over the next few years with the first phase consisting of one grass rugby pitch encircled by a grass running track. All going to plan, we hope to have boots and spikes hitting the pitch and track by September 2022. On completion of the final phase of the development there will be three grass pitches with the main pitch encircled by a full-size synthetic surface running track and a clubhouse. This proposed sports facility will allow both clubs to grow and to offer more sporting disciplines and opportunities to children of all ages and abilities. What makes this proposed sports facility a little different is that there will be a strong emphasis on being eco-friendly. Among the proposals will be the use of PV-solar panels for energy supply, provision of electric vehicle charging points, bicycle parking, pollinator friendly flowerbeds, maintaining all existing hedgerows and planting many new trees.
In recent times a significant step forward was taken with the official signing of a long-term lease agreement for this site between Cork County Council and Carrigaline RFC. The site’s proximity to local schools is something that will be of mutual benefit to both the Clubs and the schools. We look forward to forging strong bonds with all local schools and welcoming students and teaching staff to use our sporting facilities for physical exercise classes, training, hosting sporting events and playing matches.
Our ambitious project is currently at the planning stage and despite the on-going Covid-19 Pandemic both Club Committees are determined to make this sports facility a reality and are working closely with Cork County Council and local Councillors. To help us with the construction phase of the project we have applied at local and national level for capital funding. We will also be hoping to secure funding from local businesses. Once we have secured planning permission our committees will be very busy organising a plethora of fund-raising events in 2022.
Despite currently having no venue to call home, the number of members at both clubs has increased steadily over the past number of years. Our players/members catchment area is quite extensive, taking in; Tracton, Minane Bridge, Ballyfeard, Ballygarvan, Currabinny, Ringaskiddy, Passage West and of course Carrigaline. Carrigaline AC juvenile membership ranges in ages from 6 years up to mid-teens, with training currently held on Tuesday evenings at the Carrigaline GAA grounds. Within the Club there is also an active road running section for adult members who are always welcoming of new members, see Carrigaline Roadrunners Facebook page for more details. The Run-the-Line event, held monthly on Saturday mornings at the Carrigaline-Crosshaven greenway, is a very popular event which will be back up and running as soon as Covid-19 restrictions allow.
At Carrigaline RFC we know that girls want to play rugby and those girls that do play rugby are every bit as ambitious as the boys and share dreams of one day playing for Munster and Ireland. We hope that our new facility and our close links with local schools will encourage many more girls to come along to give rugby a try.
Once Phase 1 of the new facility is complete, not only will we be running training and hosting matches for our U6s – U18s teams but we will develop a disability section within the Club so that children within our community with a physical, sensory or learning disability can achieve their potential through the game of rugby in a safe and inclusive manner. For the veterans (+50 years old) in our community we will offer Walking Rugby on a weekly basis. We hope Walking Rugby will re-engage retired rugby players as well as introduce the game to new men and women in the local community.
For the immediate future, we return to rugby on the first week of September. For any boy or girl interested in trying out rugby with Carrigaline RFC please find us on Facebook or email: carrigalinerugby@gmail.com. We are always delighted for new players and coaches to join us so please do not hesitate to get in touch.