Hockey Club launches fundraiser for multi-purpose pitch at Nenagh College
Nenagh Hockey Club has recently launched its fundraiser to generate funds for the multi-sport pitch project at Nenagh College.
The pitch will be a state of the art facility in the heart of Nenagh catering for local schools and providing space for hockey and a wide range of other sports. As part of the fundraising efforts the Club has launched a Leap Day €10K draw. Tickets are €100 and are limited to 750 tickets. Over 40 Nenagh based companies have already generously support the draw to date. Tickets will go on sale to the general public shortly.
Hockey is played typically on 2G Astro similar to a tennis court surface and so the freezing conditions last weekend played havoc with fixtures across the country.
The same was true of two Nenagh home games which were scheduled to take place at the Ursuline in Thurles. In addition, blitzes planned for the Under 12 girls as well as home blitz for Under 9 & Under 11 boys being hosted by Nenagh Hockey Club in Thurles were also called off due to the inclement conditions.
Inclusive Programmes
Although matches were called off, training went ahead as normal for a number of the outreach programmes that Nenagh Hockey Club is currently running.
First up on Saturday morning was Hockey4All, the hockey club's outreach programme to include children and young people with additional needs in the sport of hockey. Hockey Ireland encourages all clubs to be inclusive and Nenagh Hockey Club, together with support from Tipperary Sports Partnership, are leading the way in Tipperary with their programme.
The hockey club is an inclusive club where everyone wis welcomed irrespective of ability. In time, Nenagh hopes to send players forward to participate in European Hockey Programmes such as Hockey ID. Nenagh’s Hockey4All programme started in the summer and has continued thanks to the excellent coaches and volunteers, especially the students who are currently in Transition Year who come to help out every Saturday morning.
Running alongside the Hockey4All programme, is the Club’s Hockey for Refugee children which is being run with support from the North Tipperary Development Company, Hockey Ireland, and the Dormant Accounts Fund. This programme allows the club to provide the necessary equipment and time to introduce refugee children of school going age to hockey. Hockey is already a popular sport in Ukraine and indeed Ireland’s men recently played Ukraine in the Euro Hockey Championship in Dublin over the Summer. The children are progressing really well with their skills as evidenced by the game held on Saturday at the end of training where some great goals were scored.
Nenagh Hockey Club hopes to continue with programmes like the Refugee and Hockey4All programme to further include players from all backgrounds and abilities into the Club.
Indoor Social Hockey
Nenagh Hockey Club runs a successful mixed Social Hockey programme, where adults of all ages and abilities play hockey at Nenagh College. The social group had to take a break due to lack of pitch times, but they have now moved to playing indoor hockey for the Winter season. Fast paced and skilful, indoor hockey is a great workout and a superb way to sharpen your hockey skills.
Anyone interested in coming along to the Tuesday night sessions should get in touch with the club at info@nenaghhockeyclub.ie.