On a wonderful weekend of 60th anniversary celebrations for Roscommon Gaels GAA Club, last Sunday’s family-oriented gathering at Lisnamult stood out as a striking symbol of all that has been achieved in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all that promises to unfold in the future.
Several hundred people were present for a Family Fun Day which featured a number of underage matches, fun activities for kids and the official opening of the club’s dressing rooms.
Of course the celebratory weekend had many more highlights. Oliver McGuinness Senior received the Hall of Fame Award on Saturday night, and the inaugural Roscommon Gaels All-Stars event, held on Friday night, was a great success. There were matches for the senior teams too, as the club devoted an entire weekend to celebrating the 60th anniversary of its formation.
There was a great atmosphere at Lisnamult on Sunday where there were matches at U-8, U-10 & U-12 level, with a skills’ display by members of the U-6s’ Academy.
The club now has about 800 members of all ages, with 450-500 of those currently involved in a playing capacity.
On Sunday, the official opening of the club’s new dressing rooms at Lisnamult was performed by Barry Molloy, a founder member of the Gaels’ back in 1959.
Mr. Molloy wished all involved with Roscommon Gaels continued success in the future and said that he was honoured to perform the official opening.
The dressing rooms were blessed by Fr. John Cullen (PP, Roscommon) and Very Rev. Canon Eugene McLoughlin.
CE of Roscommon County Council Mr. Eugene Cummins and Mr. Seamus Sweeney, Chairperson, Roscommon GAA County Board both addressed the attendance, complimenting Roscommon Gaels’ on the project and emphasising how important a role the GAA continues to play in Irish society.
Roscommon Gaels’ chairperson Teresa Hession thanked everyone associated with the Lisnamult project and spoke of the ongoing growth of the club. Ms. Hession confirmed that future plans include the provision of a stand, carparking spaces and an astroturf facility. Already, Roscommon Gaels has two full-sized pitches, three juvenile pitches and a number of training areas at the Lisnamult grounds. The venue is made available to all local schools and currently hosts in excess of one hundred games per year.
Ms. Hession thanked Main Contractor Cormac Hoare for doing a fabulous job and also thanked everyone else who had helped in any capacity. Highlighting the key role played by Roscommon Gaels in the community, Ms. Hession thanked the people of Roscommon for their ongoing support.
She added that it is also important to appreciate that the Hyde Centre (at Hyde Park) remains a very important part of the Gaels’ set-up, with that centre hosting events virtually ever day of the week. “It remains a very important community hub”, she said.
Concluding, the Gaels’ chairperson said that further voluntary assistance would be greatly appreciated, as will fundraising support, as Roscommon Gaels looks to continue to develop its facilities and copperfasten its role in the heart of the community.
