Bandon GAA Club looking after its members interests on and off Charlie Hurley Park

BANDON GAA Club have completed several projects, both externally and internally at Charlie Hurley Park in recent months.

The projects which include the installation of new Solar PV and battery system in the pavilion, the installation of a new team dugout and the installation of five energy efficient windows in the pavilion were driven on by their club development committee.

Other recently completed projects include the purchasing of maintenance equipment for the grass pitches, the addition of CCTV cameras and rainwater drainage in the lower car park area.

The chairperson of Bandon GAA Club Phil Murphy welcomed the recent developments. 

“These developments will benefit the users of our recreational facilities, while also helping us to reduce our monthly electricity costs. "We have a very hard-working development committee who have driven it on. 

"They have produced great ideas and got the funds in. They are a very strong team who really drove on all the recent projects,” he said.

The club official said the new dugout which will hold 16 people was badly needed. 

“We have a new dugout on the main pitch. Both dugouts originally were built on the same side of the pitch, and it is not ideal. 

"We used to then have to put chairs over on the far side of the pitch and if it was raining, this wasn’t ideal. 

"The new dugout will hold 16 people. The new dugout will be across from the existing dugout.” 

Installing the solar panels and the PVC windows will help the club reduce its costs going forward said Mr Murphy. 

“It is not cheap to run a club on an annual basis. Equipment and hurleys add up. 

"There are solar panels installed on the pavilion and new PVC windows erected. We want to cut down on our energy bills. It is the way forward.

“We had noticed our energy bills increasing by a good bit in recent months, so we decided to do something about it. 

"We are now actually selling back to the grid from the solar panels which is ideal. We are now going to gain hugely. 

"We will reduce our bills and it is good from a sustainable point of view,” he added.

The club administrator also welcomed the various other projects that were recently completed in the progressive GAA club. 

“We also installed security cameras on the driveway and on the car park. They are to keep everyone safe. 

"The top pitch has been resodded. We have also purchased a ride on lawnmower which will be a big help. We have no other projects or developments in the pipeline. 

"These various projects will be it for another while.

“We have worked hard to raise the funds for the projects,” said Mr Murphy. 

“We have raised funds for the various projects through several fundraising initiatives such as the club lotto, the Rebel Bounty draw and the annual GAA Golf Classic. 

"It was also grant aided from various sources which was a huge help. We have worked hard to raise the funds for the projects. 

"As a GAA club you must be driving things on all the time, be it raising funds or getting projects done around the club. 

"No club can afford to stand still.” 

Charlie Hurley Park is a hive of activity every day with the many Bandon teams at adult and underage level, camogie and ladies football all availing of the club’s brilliant facilities. 

The club chair said they currently have over 400 members at underage level. 

“The numbers at underage level are savage at the moment. We have over 400 members at underage level. 

"Ladies football and camogie are also going very well in the club which is great to see. Charlie Hurley Park is very busy the whole time which is very satisfying. 

"We are fielding two adult hurling and football teams and two U21 teams in both football and hurling. So that is three adult hurling teams and three adult football teams. 

"It is great to have such strong numbers. All the pitches are very busy every night.

“We have two pitches and a corner pitch which is a small pitch for small-sided training sessions. 

"We also have a ball alley which is all weather and it means that players can be in there practicing away throughout the year. 

"This is great for their development and improving their skillset. We have an online pitch diary and there are five or six events on every night between matches and training,” he added.

With the population of Bandon expected to keep growing, Phil and his team of officers are determined to ensure the club avails of the population surge. 

“The population in Bandon is growing on an annual basis so we need to make sure we have a perfect set up to accommodate the needs of the players who want to play for the club. 

"We have so many good people in the club, who are helping to raise funds, coach teams and who are doing so much work behind the scenes. 

"The spirit in the club and in the community is very good. The club is as strong as the people involved. We want everyone in the Bandon locality to join up. 

"There is a role for everyone. The club on and off the pitch is in a good place. We will keep driving it on.”