Tipperary GAA club officially opens new €250,000 all-weather pitch and ball wall

Carrick Swan GAA Club’s new €250,000 all-weather playing pitch and ball wall were officially opened at a big celebration at Páirc na nEalaí last Friday evening

Fr Jimmy Browne blessed the 50mX35m synthetic grass pitch and 35 x 5m ball wall and juvenile player Oísin Fahey cut the ribbon to officially open the two new playing facilities.

To celebrate the occasion, the club’s Under-7 players played in a blitz on the all-weather pitch.

The astro-turf pitch and ball wall have been developed on a section of the grass training area at Páirc na nEalaí and boast LED floodlighting to facilitate night-time training sessions.

Swan Club inter-county stars - Tipperary Minor hurler Stefan Tobin, Tipperary Junior camogie player Emma O’Halloran and Tipperary Under-20 hurler Aaron O’Halloran - officially launched the 2024 12 Days of Christmas Draw at the opening ceremony.

Funds raised by the draw go towards paying for the development of Páirc na nEalaí including the astro-turf pitch and ball wall.

The draw boasts €20,000 in prize money, with a top-prize of €10,000. Tickets cost €50.

In his speech, Swan Club Chairman Jim Bourke described the pitch and ball wall as a “magnificent addition” to the already impressive facilities at Páirc na nÉalaí and another historic day for the club.

“Although the official opening of the training area is by design more understated than our field opening last year, it is no less an achievement and to have it completed within a year of the field opening is truly amazing,” he said

“It is testament to the dedication of so many hard working volunteer members within the club and to the support we have received from the Carrick-on-Suir community and beyond with our fundraising efforts.”

Check out more photographs from the official opening of the Swan GAA Club's all-weather pitch and ball wall in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops. 

Pictured below: Swan Cygnets Under-7 players with their coaches at the official opening of the all-weather pitch and ball wall at Páirc na nEalaí. The Under-7 players took part in a blitz at the official opening event