BIG READ: Fethard Town Park described as 'world-class and unrivalled in the country'

One of Tipperary’s latest sporting and recreational facilities has been described by the Government Minister who opened it as “world-class and unrivalled in the country”.

It was a gala day in Fethard on Sunday when the new €7.1m state-of-the-art Fethard Town Park was officially unveiled.

The joint project involving Coolmore Stud’s John and Sue Magnier; Tipperary County Council, State agencies and the local community is a testament to how dreams can become reality.

Local people flocked to the venue to hear glowing praise for the venture from Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys; Tipperary County Council CEO Joe MacGrath; Coolmore boss John Magnier; Coolmore’s Maurice Moloney, one of the driving forces behind the project and politicians Michael Lowry TD and council Chairman, Roger Kennedy and Senator Garret Ahearn.

As befitting such an iconic sporting undertaking, sports stars of past and present were also in attendance, many of whom took part in a Game of Two Halves after the formalities.

This involved fifteen minutes each of tag rugby and Gaelic football, and featured such icons as Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey from “up the road” in Killenaule, Rachael Blackmore; All-Ireland winning hurling captains, Eoin Kelly and Seamus Callanan; another former Tipp hurler Brendan Cummins; local rugby international Dorothy Wall; and racehorse trainer Donnacha O’Brien, among many others.

One of the teams was managed by Tipperary hurling boss Liam Cahill and one can only guess at his emotions as he saw Seamus Callanan play rugby and football just six days before his side’s All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Galway!

A brilliant match commentator was journalist and disability rights activist, Joanne O’Riordan, who was coached on the sideline on the various players’ nicknames and special attributes by head steward and groundskeeper, Tommy Sheehan.

The excitement and atmosphere generated throughout the day copper-fastened the words of Minister Heather Humphreys when she described the achievement to get Fethard Town Park off the ground as “nothing short of extraordinary and a world-class amenity”.

“It really will be transformational, benefiting everyone from wee toddlers to older members of the community for generations to come. The range of facilities is nothing short of fantastic that will support the health and well-being of everyone in the community.

“You’ve got the GAA and rugby pitches, training facilities, a fitness studio and gym, meeting rooms and a café – Fethard Town Park will become the central hub of the community,” she told the attendees. And she joked that she might have to open a separate section of her own department exclusively for Tipperary projects.

“Since the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established, we have invested over €46m in Tipperary alone, the highest allocation in any county in Ireland,” she said.

Coolmore’s Maurice Moloney, Fethard Town Park director, who was one of the driving forces behind the project after being tasked with the job by John Magnier, said the finished project was a showcase of all their labours, since the first seeds of the idea were planted as far back as 2008.

Thanking everyone involved, he made special mention of groundskeeper Tommy Sheehan, who he described as being “front and centre” of the facility, and also Caroline Madden, who had been seconded as project supervisor and who played a key role in working with all the various agencies involved.

Mr Moloney pointed out that Fethard Town Park was now a home for Munster Rugby, Tipperary Gaelic Football academy, Tipperary Ladies Football, Fethard Rugby Club and Fethard GAA.

The initial sixteen acres for the site had come from the Magnier family, with further land from Tipperary County Council and the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.

All this had resulted in a 4G all-weather pitch for rugby and Gaelic games, a spectator stand, walkways, a community pavilion and parkland, with a primary care health centre to follow, all contributing to the care, health and well-being of the community.

Mr Moloney said that while large parts of the funding had come from the Magnier Foundation and State agencies, those behind the project had set a target of €100,000 to come from the local community, and he asked all those present to give themselves a round of applause as that target had been realised.

County council CEO Joe MacGrath described Fethard Town Park as the “apple of the eye” of rural Ireland that will transform the locality.

“And it is here because of the Magnier family and their vision,” he remarked.

Independent TD Michael Lowry, who was credited for his huge work in lobbying with the Government for vital funding for the project, agreed that the whole undertaking was the brainchild of John and Sue Magnier and wouldn’t have happened without their vision and generosity.

He pointed out that Mr Magnier had two conditions for the project – his €3m investment had to be matched by State funding, and the Town Park was to embrace all sports, not one particular sport, and it would be available to all ages, abilities and agilities.

Tipperary County Council Chairman, Roger Kennedy, said Fethard Town Park had a real “wow” factor.

It was a facility second to none in Ireland and was an example of what a Public Private Partnership (PPP) could achieve.

The facility was blessed by Rev Fr Liam Everard, who remarked that the Diocese was very pleased to be able to donate land to such a worthwhile project.