Burgess GAA launch fundraiser for new facilities

Burgess GAA has issued a public appeal for funding as it embarks on one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the club.

The club is proposing to develop a multi-games all-weather astro-turf playing facility incorporating a hurling wall at its grounds in Kilcoleman. The club intends opening up the state-of-the- art amenity to the wider community within the parish, providing an enviable sporting facility for use by all the parish. Full details of the project will be unveiled when an extensive fundraising campaign will be revealed by Burgess club officials in Reidy's Pub in Newtown on Friday, November 1st, at 9pm. All supporters of the club are urged to attend.

"This is going to be one of the finest sporting facilities we will ever build for use by the club itself and for other groups," says David Kyne, a member of the committee given the task of driving the project.
"The huge benefit of this new facility is that we will be able to use it day and night in all kinds of weather.
"For the club itself it will mean we will build fitter, stronger, faster hurlers and footballers to compete on our behalf long into the future."

Another member of the committee is Pat Stanley who said it was intended to make the facility available to many other clubs and organistions in the parish. He said the club had an aspiration to have the new facility completed next year. But he stressed that realising that ambition will depend on people contributing money towards the cost of the €200,000 venture.
And so the club has come up with a fund generation scheme where it is hoping that people will buy individual or multiple blocks that will go towards the construction of the hurling wall.
Says Pat: "Our scheme is called 'Buy a Block, Build a Future' and what we are asking people to do is donate a once-off payment of €200 to the club. "If people wish they will also have the option of donating the €200 in two separate payments of €100, or they can pay the €200 in ten equal payments of €20 over a ten-month period."
Says David Kyne: "This is going to be a fabulous facility, not just for the club, but for many other clubs and individuals in the parish, and it will be a super all-year-around facility for the two local primary schools.”
The fundraising for the project has already been considerably boosted due to €44,000 being realised from a 'Chaser' night based on the hit ITV game show that the club hosted last year.

Grant aid of €34,000 has also been received from Tipperary County Council, but now the big push is on to get supporters of the club to gift the remainder of the cash needed to bring the project to fruition.
Says David Kyne: "We are appealing to householders in the parish and other individuals and organisations to support us in providing this marvellous facility. This amenity will not only greatly benefit this generation, but future generations to come.

"Members of our fundraising committee will be calling to homes in the parish over the next few weeks seeking donations and we hope people will respond positively."
Among those urging people to row in behind the fundraising drive is clubman and Tipperary hurler Donagh Maher and leading Duharra Camogie player Jenny Grace who can be seen on Facebook seeking the public's support.
Burgess GAA Club has provided magnificient facilities in the parish over the years. As well as develping two playing pitches in Kilcoleman, the club has a community centre on its grounds which provides an outlet for local people, housing a fitness centre and faclities for art classes and card playing and other parish events.
Now they are embarking on a new and exciting chapter with the all-weather astro-turf facility and hurling wall.