Tour De Tubber cycle to help club repair storm damage

Community spirit will be to the fore in Tubber GAA next weekend when the club unites to raise funds towards the refurbishment and enhancement of the club grounds.

Resulting from damage caused by Storm Éowyn in February, the club will host a 120km Tour De Tubber cycling initiative, the funds raised from which will go towards the essential repair of two ball stoppers on the club’s GAA pitch in the heart of the community.

Ten members of the club will undertake a 120km cycle from Croke Park to the club grounds on Saturday, August 23rd. The cyclists - Ned and Donal Shirley, Brian McManus, Chris Daly, Daragh Lowry, Basil Cronin, John Macken, Colin Carter, Emma Rafferty and JJ Colgan, will depart GAA HQ destined for Tubber.

At the same time, 75 club members will be participating in a 24 hour spinathon in the Tubber GAA clubhouse where, over the course of a 24-hour period from August 22-23 they will aim to cycle 1,200km in total on the three spinning bikes in operation.

Tubber GAA PRO Brian Kelly said that the fundraising initiative was much needed following the damage caused to club infrastructure by Storm Éowyn.

“Unfortunately, there was serious damage caused by the storm to our ball stoppers behind each goal. We had to replace the net on one of the ball stoppers while a stanchion attached to the second ball stopper was impacted when falling trees struck it.

“A number of Leylandii trees surrounding the pitch also fell and being close to power lines we needed the assistance of the ESB to cut and remove them safely,” Brian said.

The funds raised will go directly towards the “cost of these repairs and investing in improvements that will benefit every player, supporter, and family in our community for years to come”.

Tubber GAA will also make “a donation to the tidy villages committee” in help sustain the work which they undertake in the community.

The club has also received sponsorship from 50 local businesses who have donated funds towards the jerseys which will be worn by the cyclists from Croke Park to Tubber GAA.

“We re asking you to please show your support. Whether it’s donating, joining us for the spinathon, cycling a stretch of the road, or simply cheering us on, every bit of support is appreciated greatly,” Brian concluded.