Development Committee of Killavullen GAA Club
After the official opening of the Killavullen GAA pitch on the 6th of June 1988, the facilities were adequate for the prevailing standard of the club for a number of years, but success on the playing front demanded the club to advance their facilities again. The catalyst for further change came about with the joyous success of the club in annexing the County Junior Football championship in 2000, and playing football at the intermediate ranks.
Quickly it became apparent that with an active juvenile club, and successful intermediate teams, the existing playing pitch was stretched to the limits. The club was lucky that the officers in the club, under the auspices of then Chairman Eamonn Coakley in 2006 had the foresight to draw up a development plan to cater for the future needs of the growing player base.
It was envisaged that the development committee would be responsible for raising the necessary capital so that the day to day running of the club could be maintained uninterrupted. To date, this development committee have more than matched their remit, been responsible for fund raising activities such as "Night at the Dogs" x 2, and a large draw in April of 2007.
Further impetus is now required so that the costs of running a club at Premier Intermediate level can be maintained, so that the players and those responsible for all teams, both junior and juvenile can do their very best that they can.
Project 1 - Additional Playing Area
An additional number of acres have been rented adjacent to the main pitch from the Linehan family in Ballygriffin, for which the club are extremely grateful. This new pitch has been ploughed and levelled and reseeded, and has now got a very good covering of grass. Goalposts have been erected in this field, and with the proximity of the Ross River, the facility has been fenced off. Already this year, this additional playing pitch has been used extensively, both for training and under age games.
Project 2 - Additional Gym and Player Facilities
The development committee next turned their attention to the gym above the dressing rooms. The flooring, lighting, and general house keeping in this area have been improved, and with additional gym equipment procured, the club has reached out to others in the community, who now avail of this service. Weights, treadmills, rowing machines and exercise bicycles are all available for the club members and players.
With the success of the Premier Intermediate team in the parish, the demands on the players requires more facilities, so ice baths and an ice maker has been recently installed, so as to aid recovery from the gruelling schedule of games and arduous training sessions.
Project 3 - Drainage of Main Pitch
By far the most ambitious plans that the club has undertaken to date, is to sand and slit the main pitch, so that it can drain faster, and that it general playing condition can be improved. With the pitch been developed in close proximity to the drainage area of the Blackwater, there is a tendency for the pitch to hold water longer than is necessary in the early spring and winter months. Over the course of the last number of years, the heavy schedule on the existing playing surface has taken its toll, so that without improvements, the pitch would not be considered adequate for championship hurling games in the intermediate or senior ranks, with undulations and a sparse covering of grass in places.
The club sought Lotto funding for their plans, and have been grateful to receive a favourable response. The main pitch was closed in September 2007, and the following tasks were completed successfully,
- Install drains in the main pitch at intervals of 2-3 metres
- Collect the drain into one main culvert, and bring this opening to the nearby Blackwater river
- Prevent back flow of water from the main culvert, up onto the pitch again
- Remodel the existing banks along the black water side of the pitch so as to aid access and general viewing
- Plough, level and reseed the pitch when this work is complete.
A specialised contractor - Kelly's from Ballydesmond, was bought onboard to carry out this mission, and in the space of 2-3 short weeks, with favourable weather, the project was completed. This work necessitated closing off the pitch for playing games and training, until the spring of 2008, to allow the new grass seed time, to bed in and settle.
Their is an onus on the club to raise approximately 30,000 Euro of the funds necessary to carry out this work, and thus fund raising has begun in earnest on this front. A fund raising auction on the 9th of December 2007 brought additional monies into the coffers, but more is required.
New ambitious plans for the playing area and general update of facilities will be ongoing, and will be advised in due course.
Within the Development Committee, the chairman and secretary have reveres roles, so that the chairman should now be Kevin O Regan, and Sean Nagle reverts to secretary.
Unsung Hero's
Killavullen GAA club is indeed very much in the debt of a small number of individuals who are steering this committee to achieve the goals of the main club, in the provision of the best facilities for the players and community of Killavullen, and the north cork hinterland.
Development Committee
| Chairpersons | Sean Nagle |
| Secretary | Kevin O'Regan |
| Committee members | Eamonn Coakley |
| John Brennan | |
| Seamus O'Driscoll | |
| Michael Rea | |
| Pat O'Regan | |
| Paddy Shanahan | |
| Liam Dorgan | |
| Billy Feore | |
| John Magnier |