Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Athenry News & Views

Grounds Development Dream closer to becoming a reality for Athenry Camogie Club

Following on from the update received at the AGM last November, Athenry Camogie Club are pleased to announce that, on the 31st March 2026, formal planning permission was granted by Galway County Council for the development of new state-of-the-art training and playing facilities for Athenry Camogie Club, on a 35-acre site at Gortnahown (across from entrance to Clarin College). On the back of the recent historic Senior Camogie Club All-Ireland win, this marks another positive milestone on the journey towards Club having facilities to call its own. Planning permission permits the development of 3x grass playing pitches, a full sized & fully lit Astro-turf (4G) playing pitch, dug-outs, lighted community walkway along with ancillary car parking. It is the hope and intention of Athenry Camogie Club Facilities Development Committee that the facility can be further enhanced in the future through development of a clubhouse, changing rooms and covered stand for the main pitch. It is hoped that the completed facility can be delivered on a stepped basis over a 2 to 5 year period (funding availability permitting). There have been some important Milestones since 2020 which are important to highlight, including: 2021 - Successful Large-Scale ‘WinahouseandCar’ Fundraiser 2023 - Purchase of Moonbaun Lands 2024 - Planning Permission was not approved for this site. 2024 - Announcement of Partnership Corporate Sponsor (Basil/Watchman) 2024 - Approved for €122,850 Sports Capital Grant Funding 2025 - Identification of new location at Gortnahown 2026 - Planning Permission Granted at Gortnahown

The FDC immediately re-engaged with the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine (DAFM) to set about establishing tenure for ACC on the Gortnahown site, which is currently owned by DAFM. This will be achieved through a land swap agreement by which the lands at Gortnahown will be exchanged for the lands at Moonbaun. It is hoped that the ‘Swap’ will happen relatively quickly, however we expect that the DAFM will have a protocol and approval steps that need to be followed, so we must be patient with the process. There is a 27th September 2026 deadline for the drawdown of the €122,850 SCEP grant awarded to ACC in 2024, however we have been assured that this deadline will be extended should the need arise and therefore this grant funding allocation is ‘safe’. The Club has come a long way - However the real work starts now. Development of the facilities will require substantial funding which we hope to generate from the following sources: Grant Funding from various government bodies including the Department of Sport (Sports Capital Programme and Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund). Various Club Fundraising activities and initiatives.

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