Terryglass school on quest for new AstroTurf pitch

“Before we ever put a pencil in a child's hands those hands should dig, climb, press, pull, squish, twist and pinch.”

The quote from Amanda Morgan, an expert in early childhood education, rings true for the community of Terryglass, who have just embarked on an ambitious drive to develop a state-of-the-art play amenity in the national school in their village.

A concerted fundraising drive is now underway in the community to raise a total of €25,000 to realise a dream - the provision of an all-weather playing pitch on the local school grounds.

The enthusiasm among everybody in support of the plan to provide the AstroTurf pitch is evident.  “We have a great community, and the local people have been fantastic in getting behind it,” says Sarahgene Loughnane, the relatively new Principal, appointed to Terryglass NS just last summer.

Terryglass has always been renowned for its fantastic community spirit.  It's that sense of togetherness and ‘meitheal’ that earned the beautiful village the overall National Tidy Towns award on two separate occasions, and the rights to representing Ireland in the population category for under 5,000 in the internationally renowned Europeanwide Entente Florale competition this coming summer.

The village's spectacular annual arts festival, which was run for two decades and attracted people from near and far, is also testimony to a community pride that runs deep.

In Terryglass there seems to be a collective effort and ambition to ensure that this small community punches way above the sum of its parts.

Now that same spirit is in evidence yet again as plans progress to develop this impressive all-weather pitch of 600 square metres.

GREAT SUPPORT

“Parents and grandparents of the children have been marvellous in helping out,” says Ms Loughnane. “Terryglass is a special place, where that strong sense of community and pulling together is inherent in all associated with our school.  We have many familial links going back generations.  The school really is at the heart of the community.”

The project has already received a great boost as the school has received a sum of €62,000 under the Government's Sports Capital Grant scheme, for which the fundraising committee praise the efforts of local TDs and Councillors in playing no small part.

The ambition of parents to make the project a reality is even now glaringly evident. Some preliminary works will be carried out with a local voluntary input, reducing the overall bill significantly. “The parents are really driving this on,” Ms Loughnane revealed.

For the pupils and staff, the AstroTurf pitch will be a fantastic addition to the school amenities.

As well as facilitating all kinds of sports and other physical and fitness activities, it means children will no longer have to rely on a grass area that brings muck and dirt into the school on wet days and results in endless washing of school tracksuits for parents.

“The great thing about the AstroTurf pitch is that it will work for us all year around. There will be lots of benefits for the wellbeing of all our pupils," said Ms Loughnane.

LONG OVERDUE

One of the reasons the fundraising drive is already proving such a success is that it has been a long 17 years since the school last sought sizeable sums of cash from the community to build a one-classroom extension.

On top of this, the school does not have a dedicated PE room, and although the village hall has always been made available for activities such as indoor hurling, athletics with David Coen and yoga, it will be great to have a sports facility of their own.

THE DRAW

To secure the outstanding sum to nail the project, the school is currently appealing to people to support its draw. Tickets cost €100 for the chance of winning an overall prize of €1,000.

The school is appealing to individuals and businesses to support. Those who buy a ticket will have their contribution acknowledged on a ‘Sponsor Wall’ to be put up at the school. Alternatively, your contribution can be acknowledged in the name of a departed loved one that will also be recorded on a dedicated ‘In Memory of...’ section of the wall.

DIGGING DEEP

Terryglass natives at home and abroad are already digging deep in their pockets to support this worthy cause.

Says Ms Loughnane: “Many of the businesses locally have been wonderfully generous and given us an awful lot. We also have an online link where people can pay the €100, which has been availed of by many people abroad.”

As the amenities in the school grow, so too is the number of pupils. Applications for new enrolments for the next school year are already being invited.

“It's amazing how the children look out for each other and support each other in the classroom and on the yard,” says Ms Loughnane.

“Everybody plays with each other regardless of their age or their ability. It's really heartwarming to see how they get on so well.

“It's this close bond that we believe will stand to the children as they get older and head into secondary school. It's lovely to see.”

The school board of management is hoping that as many people as possible will respond positively to their fundraiser.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact any of the following to get more information on how you can contribute: John Tierney, 087 6821398; Gillian Flynn, 086 3846672; Joseph Cleary, 087 9598533; Conor Leenane, 086 1066613; Sarahgene Loughnane, 083 1824424.