Abbey Vocational School launches fundraising campaign for new sports grounds

Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town has launched a fundraising campaign for the development of their new sports grounds which they aim to have fully ready by the autumn of 2025.  

The pitch that currently stands at the school has been out of action for over a decade now due to it consistently being waterlogged and unplayable, with school teams in all field sports being forced to rely on the goodwill of local clubs for the use of their pitches.

The school currently has no pitch on which to train their sports teams or to host home fixtures. This makes their task of preparing teams and athletes for competitions much more difficult than it ought to be, and the successes of AVS students in all disciplines in recent years, overcoming this obstacle is a testament to their talent and dedication and to the diligent work of their coaches and teachers, especially with their Senior Boys GAA team recently qualifying for the All-Ireland Masita Paddy Drummond Cup Final - only the fourth Donegal school ever to do so. 

The construction work will begin this spring and includes the removal of the existing pitch which will be replaced by a completely new sand-based grass pitch with a new drainage system installed, new ball-stop nets and improved track and lighting around the perimeter.  

If everything goes to plan the school hopes to have their soccer and GAA teams training and playing on the new pitch in the autumn of 2025.  

Ronan Doherty, Deputy Principal at the AVS explains; “for a long time we have been asked about our school pitch and if we had any plans to develop it and make it usable again, especially with all the soccer and Gaelic football teams we have!” said the Deputy Principal.  

“With the amount of field sports, athletics, and PE that our students partake in, and the fact that we have a pitch on our site that we can’t use, has been a real issue now for a long time.  

“We are very close to turning the sod on an exciting new pitch and track redevelopment here at the school.”  

When asked about the amount of new developments that are already happening at the school Doherty explains; “the recent building extensions at the school have all been funded through the Dept of Education. What makes a development like this more challenging is that funding has to be sought from different sources.  

“Our strong, long held partnerships with the local community, and in particular Tir Chonaill AC who are our partners in this project have been vital in accessing these types of funds.” 

The total cost of the new pitch and track is just shy of €350,000. With €293,550 already secured by the school, which comprises €251,000 from Sports Capital, sponsorship from Donegal Town Credit Union, Donegal ETB, and Energia, their final target is now within reach.  

“We are confident that the school will get the support needed from our past students and the AVS school community to gather the final €56,450 required,” said the Deputy Principal.  

To meet the required budget the school has launched a ‘Sponsor a Square’ initiative, where squares on the new pitch are available to be sponsored for €100 each to individuals/groups/families that will be recognised for their donation to the development of the pitch and track.  

Anyone who sponsors a square can attach their name, their family’s name, the name of a loved one to the square, or choose to remain anonymous. These names will be recognised on an appreciation plaque to be installed at the entrance to the new facility.  

It is hoped that the vast diaspora of AVS, and in particular all those past students and their families who have participated in and benefitted from sporting activities at the AVS will support this initiative and seize the opportunity to be associated with this development.  

For further information or to access the QR code or link to donate then please go to any of the school social media platforms; the school website avsdonegal.com; contact the school on 074 9721105 to arrange payment; or click on the link here.  

The school also has a variety of corporate sponsorship packages available for those who may be interested.  

If your company would like to help the AVS by becoming a corporate sponsor, then you can contact the school on 074 9721105 or email ronandoherty@donegaletb.ie 

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