Clara Town FC astro turf project makes rapid progress
Clara Town FC has praised the "amazing support" the club has received from the local community as it posted a series of photographs detailing the rapid progress being made on the installation of its long-awaited astro turf facilities.
In a Facebook post the club said the new facilities will be a testament to "every person that sat on the committee, every person that kicked a ball, ecery coach and manager, every person that watched a game, every person that contributed to the building of the clubhouse down to cutting the grass."
Outlining how an astro turf pitch has "always been a dream" for Clara Town, the club described the last few weeks at their premises in Lissaniskey as being "exciting" and said they are still struggling to believe that it the project is "coming through after all the years of "planning, chatting and hoping."
They added that "the support of the community have pushed it on" and also paid tribute to all those who have supported the many fundraising initiatives of the club. "We couldn't be more thankful to everyone - the season of 2025/26 is gonna be a memorable one" said the post.
Clara Town FC was given approval by Offaly County Council planners last month for the development of a 66 x 96 metre astro turf pitch and a 750 metre walking track at their premises in Lissanisky, on the outskirts of the town.
The club was also given approval for a a 1.2 metre high galvanised fence; LED floodlight system to both the walking track and the pitch, and all associated site works and drainage.
Clara Town FC was established in 1966, making it one of the oldest soccer clubs in Offaly. In what was a major coup for the club they purchased and developed their own club grounds at Lissanisky in 1999 and have been gradually improving their facilities since then.
A long-held ambition for the club has been the establishment of an all-weather astro turf pitch to facilitate winter training, so the go-ahead for this development, in tandem with a walking track, has been warmly welcomed by everyone associated with the club.