GAA president Jarlath Burns set to officially open new CLG Ard an Rátha facilities  

GAA President Jarlath Burns will cut the ribbon when CLG Ard an Rátha officially open their brand new training facilities this weekend at Pearse Memorial Park. 

Fresh from presenting home county Armagh with the Sam Maguire Cup, Burns’ visit is one of a number of highlights pencilled in for the weekend of celebrations at the Kentucky venue. 

Sunday is also a jam-packed day of fun with the men and woman’s ‘home vs exiles’ games the centre pieces to all of that. 

Club chairman John McConnell has, over the years, held most roles on the executive and has also bossed from senior right down to the bottom rung of underage. 

And there is no doubt he’s seen some changes in that timeframe in relation to facilities and indeed demand for time and space, on the field, as training and playing schedules continue to swell. 

The club has pushed the boundaries, both physically and metaphorically, in that same time with almost every square inch now accounted for as Pearse Memorial Park closes in on maximising its potential. 

An aerial view of Pearse Memorial Park and its entire development 

As well as their two playing pitches, the second developed with state-of-the-art flooding lighting back in 2007, Ard an Rátha have also recently constructed a new astroturf pitch as well as their own purpose-built standalone gymnasium. 

The second playing pitch also boasts a seated stand with their new clubhouse constructed ahead of the hosting of the national Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta finals in 2015.

Pearse Memorial Park was subsequently named as Donegal and Ulster Ground of the Year that same season. 

“It’s amazing really, what’s been achieved in terms of facilities and the work that’s gone into that has been huge,” said McConnell, also a former Donegal GAA chairman. 

“There was a small bit of panic when we realised the ladies finals at Croke Park were clashing with the Sunday. 

“But Jarlath has kindly agreed to come down now on the Saturday so it’s full steam ahead. It’s really to mark the development of the training facilities that have been built  in the last number of years. 

“That started with the kicking wall back in 2020. The minor board was central to that. We’d fundraising plans for our centenary in 2021 but the Covid pandemic obviously put paid to that. 

“But we ran a number of smaller draws in 2021 and 2022/23. The intention always was to get the astroturf and gym developed at the same time. But, again, the pandemic interfered with that ambition. 

“The fundraising initiative that really got us over the line, the one last year, was the ‘Cash or Car’ draw”.

Over the line is, perhaps, an understatement as the two-story gym measures 440 square metres and boasts the best and latest equipment while the fenced astroturf playing area is 51m x 42m. 

McConnell admits he’s still penning his own words ahead of the weekend as he endeavours not to leave anyone out when it comes to thanking the so many individuals that were central to what the club now has at its disposal in terms of development and facilities. 

“An awful lot of people - going back an awful long way - can rightly feel proud. There is no doubt about that. I’ll go into much more detail on that at the weekend. 

“If I started now I’d definitely leave someone out. You’re talking about different timeframes, phases and just small steps along the way. 

“With the amount of teams we cater for now, across all grades for both men and woman, we are so fortunate that we have the space that we have - finished to the standard that it’s finished to”.

As well as their own exhaustive efforts to raise monies, McConnell explains that the club is also indebted to the Sports Capital grant and Donegal County Council, through the Clár programme, as well as an additional bump from the Community Recognition Fund. 

“The new walkway around the new field was central to the Community Recognition Fund help. And that’s attracted people to our ground that would never have used it before. 

“The real idea behind a lot of the new work, is that it’s viewed as a community hub as much as anything. Everyone is welcome. 

“We’re also at an advanced stage, finalising the design more than anything else, of putting a modern sensory room in place. 

“A lot of our members are families who have children with additional needs and we want to cater for that. And that’s going to be an open space with 24/7 availability for anyone that needs it”.

GAA President Burns will be present at Pearse Memorial Park on Saturday at 4pm with a guard of honour leading him towards a tour of the new gymnasium and astro facilities. 

On Sunday, Family Fun Day, there is a brilliant line-up of fun activities like face painting, novelty races and, of course, the two ‘home vs exiles’ games. 

That all gets underway at 3pm. The day will be rounded off after with music upstairs in the clubhouse.