Progressive Liam Mellows Club unveils modern new all-weather pitch facilities at Ballyloughane

Date Published: {J}

THE official launch of Liam Mellows extensive all-weather facilities at Ballyloughane, Renmore takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at 5.30pm.

Phase one, which consisted of the development of a fully drained juvenile size grass pitch, was completed last year and is now in full use. Phase two, the development of all-weather facilities has recently been completed.

Three standard sized fully floodlit Astro Turf cages with 3G surfacing are now fully operational.

Two of these pitches can be opened into one fifty metre by thirty five metre pitch with a fifty metre long hurling wall. The club has now moved on to planning the next phase which will result in the development of an additional full size, fully drained and floodlit sand based grass pitch.

This will be in addition to the present full size pitch and the new juvenile pitch. Thanks to the generous support of the people of Galway City and the continued dedication of its members, Mellows is now well on the way to having some of the most extensive and the most modern GAA facilities in the county.

For a number of years, Mellows have recognised the necessity to assist in the development of hurling in Galway city by creating a Centre of Excellence at Ballyloughane, on a par with other cities such as Cork and Dublin.

The availability of ultra modern facilities for the use of club members as well as for the use of schools and other sporting clubs in the city is essential to that development. Down through the years, the club has enjoyed the continued support of the people of Galway city.

Mellows is now endeavouring to build on that support by assisting in the development of the area surround their grounds for greater public use in tandem with the development of their sporting facilities.

In consultation with local residents and the City Council, Mellows are working on making their facilities at the centre of an additional amenity area and as an extension to the recently upgraded Ballyloughane beach area.

The club will also host an open day for children from the ages of 4 to10 years of age at Ballyloughane with some of the Galway county stars. This will take place from 11am to 1pm and will involve fun games and a skills session.

The club is also busy preparing for their fundraiser ‘Who wants to be a Thousandaire’ which will take place on December 3rd in the Clayton Hotel. All members are actively looking for company advertisements and tickets will be available soon.