Hockey in the west of Ireland is set for a huge boost with the Comer Group proposing to include a centre of excellence for the sport at the Mountain South venue which is located just outside of Athenry.
The development is set to provide hockey in the region with a massive boost to an area crying out for improved facilities to cope with a growing level of interest in the sport.
Recently, new clubs have formed in Athenry, Loughrea, Ballinasloe and Tuam despite the lack of full-sized, hockey-specific playing facilities in the region while clubs in Galway city are required to have waiting lists due to over-subscription of players relative to facilities available.
Mountain South is a 103-acre plot of land which the Comer Group acquired in 2018 and has been earmarked to also welcome a centre of excellence for Galway United Football Club.
As part of the project, the Comer brothers have extended a helping hand to grow the game of hockey in Connacht where representatives have been campaigning for equal access to multi sport facilities for a number of years. A masterplan outlining two hockey pitches has been submitted as part of a planning application for Mountain South to Galway County Council.
Mr. Richard Fahey, interim CEO of Hockey Ireland, said: “This proposal is massive for hockey in the region where we are experiencing huge growth and interest with hundreds of new players taking up the sport recently.
“Having a high-class facility for players will open up hockey to them to pursue their new passion can only accelerate and consolidate the growth of the game. Following the sports capital support for the Miller’s Lane project in Galway city, this is potentially another great development and testament to the work being done by Connacht Hockey’s officers.”
Ms Aisling Keogh, Connacht Hockey and an ex International Hockey Umpire, who now campaigns for multi-sport facilities for women and sport said: “I took a chance and contacted Mr. Comer and my venture paid off, it’s like being in a dream. You go from absolutely nothing to achieving something wonderful. Mr Comer met with us and listened to our story. He recognised the need for hockey facilities in the West of the Country and specifically wanted to give his support to activities that cater for women. He invited Connacht Hockey into this project with nothing but positivity and we look forward to working together in the future. We are so grateful as a community to the Comer Group, Brian and Luke Comer. What the Comer Group have done for Hockey in the West by helping us with facilities is just an amazing story”.
Athenry recently formed a new hockey club the Athenry Swans and it now has over 100 members. With only one 2g hockey pitch in Dangan and a 2g multi sport development from the sports capital grant in the pipeline for Millers Lane having this project available to the sport would be a huge asset.
Aisling continued: “It gives us an opportunity to compete with the rest of the provinces with the possibility of having the first water based pitch in Connacht. It is a very exciting prospect to be honest and a dream we hope comes true for our sport and its members”
Mr. Kevin Keane, Chair and President of Connacht Hockey, added “The facility will bring opportunity to all in our community, young and old, as a centre of excellence for the development of our sport in the Western Region. We are absolutely delighted to be able to share a facility like this with Galway United and look forward to a prosperous future together. The facility would allow us to grow the game on the East side of the city and would allow all our members to use top class facilities”
Luke Comer stated he was delighted to meet with Aisling and Kevin to hear the story of Connacht Hockey and their struggle for facilities in the West. “As a keen sports person, It is so important to support young people in sport and particularly women in sport”. Following our meeting with Aisling and Kevin the Comer Group were very happy that Connacht Hockey were to be included in the development at the Mountain South.
Aisling and Kevin continue to work with Galway United and are hopeful that planning for this amazing and well need facility in the West of Ireland will come to fruition.
