We have officially unveiled our new state-of-the-art astro turf facility on Friday 24th September which will benefit both students attending the college and the wider local community. The project has been in the works since 2019 when the Board of Management at the college supported a decision to write to the patrons, Cork Education and Training Board with a proposal to develop an all-weather flood lit astro-turf facility on the school grounds which also includes a hurling wall and walkway, while upgrading the existing school pitch.
Cork ETB CEO Mr. Denis Leamy officially opens the new GCC all weather sporting facility
The proposal was a direct response to a lack of resources within the school as it was unable to adequately meet the needs of students with regard to the provision of facilities for PE classes, sporting teams and recreation areas at break times.
Largely dependent on the availability of facilities from nearby clubs ( rugby, soccer and GAA) to meet these needs, the school’s Board of Management deemed it a matter of priority to address this to enable the school to become more self sufficient in terms of how it operates.
School Principal Mr. Ronan McCarthy speaking at the launch
The school looks forward not only to offering a state-of-the-art facility to our students but to also making it available to local community-based organisations. We will give priority to local clubs who cater for students from our school and have a long-term interest in the care and maintenance of the facility and its surroundings.
We are grateful for the support of our Board of Management, parents, staff, students, Cork ETB and the local community in Glanmire for making this development a reality and we hope all our community will benefit from its use for many years to come.
Chief Executive of Cork Education and Training Board Denis Leamy also welcomed the opening and said Cork Education and Training Board was happy to facilitate this development as patrons of the school.
“Cork Education and Training Board are proud to be associated with the development of such a high-quality facility. We will continue to strive to improve the facilities and resources in all of our schools across Cork city and county to meet the needs of growing student populations and this development is just one practical example. It is also our role to support local communities that our schools are located in and this new facility will also have a positive impact on the wider local community in Glanmire. I would also like to pay tribute to the Board of Management at the school, who have shown diligence and determination to see this project through to fruition since they first approached Cork Education and Training Board with their initial proposal in 2019 – congratulations – all of your hard work has paid off and is evident in the quality of this development,” (Mr. Denis Leamy, Cork ETB CEO)
Pictured are Sarah Flynn, Pat McKelvey, Valerie Lucey, Denis Leamy (Cork ETB), Ronan McCarthy (Principal), Gertie Cahill, Seamus Kennefick and Sean McGrath (Deputy Principals)
The all-weather pitch was built by Hourihan Sports Field Development and the consultant for the project was Pat Carey Lynch & Associates. Work commenced on the project in March this year and also involved upgrading the schools existing pitch.
Pictured using the new Walk Way on site are, students, Danielle Winter, member of the Ireland Under 16 Rowing squad and Ciara Gardiner, member of the 2024 Olympic swimming squad with Mr. Ronan McCarthy and Mr. Denis Leamy.
A special thanks to Mr Seamus Kennefick for managing the project and the teachers involved as part of the working group to initially get this project off the ground.
The total works completed as part of this development were the following:
- A floodlit all-weather pitch (65m x 37.5m)
- A hurling wall
- A 3 metre tarmacadam walkway around our existing grass pitch
- Lighting of this walkway
GCC Senior Management