Daingean Club on track with plans for state-of-the-art athletics facility

Daingean Naomh Mhuire Athletics Club are making fast strides to ensure a lasting sporting legacy in the community as a fundraising campaign for the development of a new athletics track surpasses €100,000.

A mere two months after launching its drive to build a €1 million state-of-the-art athletics and sports facility for the Daingean community, the milestone figure has been reached, with a target of €150,000 the initial goal for the athletics club.

The target figure of €150,000 is needed to bridge the funding gap on phase one of the development project in Gortakeel.

Daingean Athletics Club has commended the fundraising amounts received to date with support "arriving from families, businesses and community groups in Offaly, throughout Ireland" and "as far afield as Britain, America and Australia".

The club confirmed that work on the ground has "moved on at pace over the summer".

The full 400-metre oval has been formed on the club's lands at Gortakeel, the access roadway into the site has been completed and the kerbing and stone base for the running surface are in place.

Phase 1 of the project comprises the 400-metre track, floodlighting and security fencing. The club has planning permission in place and has secured grant approvals of approximately €200,000, including funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund and the LEADER programme.

Phase 2 will deliver a clubhouse with changing rooms, toilets, showers, meeting space and community facilities.

Club Chairman Brenden Donagher, has proudly welcomed the support which the club has received from the community for the development project.

"When we launched this campaign in June, we were asking people to back a plan on paper.

Anyone who drives out to Gortakeel now can see a 400-metre track taking shape where there was nothing but bog. That has only happened because the community got behind us.

"We have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown, not just in Daingean but from people all over the country and abroad who still call this place home," Donagher said.

Project treasurer, Gerard Cleary, said reaching such a milestone figure, only two months into the club's fundraising campaign is a "remarkable achievement".

"Passing €100,000 in two months is a remarkable achievement for a club of our size, and every cent of it has come from people choosing to give.

"Over 100 members have gone out and fundraised themselves, and close to 2,000 separate donations have been made, most of them modest amounts that have added up to something substantial.

"We still need to reach €150,000 to complete Phase 1 as planned, so we would ask anyone who has not yet donated to consider doing so, and any business that would like to be associated with the project to get in touch with us," Cleary added.

Attention now turns to the club's 26 Counties Challenge, which takes place on Saturday, September 26.

Teams representing each of the 26 counties will take part in the event, which the club hopes will carry the campaign towards its €150,000 target.

Once complete, the athletics and sports facility will be available to local athletes, walkers, runners, schools, sports clubs and community groups, providing a safe and accessible place to train and exercise close to home and supporting participation in physical activity among people of all ages and abilities.