Initiative launched to help fund Cortoon Lavally Community Park
The CORTOON Lavally Playing Fields executive committee has launched a major fundraising initiative as they look to proceed with plans to build a new community park.
A planning application submitted in November by the group for a full-size GAA pitch and astro all-weather pitch, located on 10acres of land across from The Cortoon Inn pub and Cortoon Church, was granted permission by Galway County Council in January.
The facility will also include a practice wall for the astro turf pitch, a walking track with lighting, spectator stand, scoreboard, changing room area with a gym, a playground, car parking spaces, and a recreational area.
Attention has since turned to raising the €3million needed to make the community's dreams a reality. The executive committee hope to do this through their new initiative: Comrades of Cortoon Lavally.
“We had a lot of very successful fundraisers already, such as Dancing with the Shamrocks, our Hilux draw, and our Galway vs New York draw too. But that was all spent buying the land,” explained Cortoon Lavally Playing Fields executive committee member Karen Joyce.
“Phase one of this development is going to cost around €3million. That is why we launched Comrades of Cortoon Lavally. A similar idea worked in Kinvara and Moycullen and we just felt it was worth doing something like it here. Give people a way of supporting us if they can afford it.”
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A 3D image of the Cortoon Lavally Community Park shown during the information evening.Image 2 of 4
THE crowd who attended the information evening in Cortoon Hall last week heard the latest updates on plans for the Cortoon Lavally Community Park.Image 3 of 4
JOHN Rattigan speaking in Cortoon Hall.Image 4 of 4
MEMBERS of the Cortoon Lavally Community Park Committee (front): Hazel Hynes, John Rattigan, Johanna Kelly, Cathal Melia, Enda Cannon, Therese Matthews, Enda Ansbro and Karen Joyce.Back: Councillor Ollie Turner, Deputy Pete Roche, Cllr Andrew Reddington County Caithaoirleach, Cllr Siobhán McHugh Ryan and Cllr Shaun Cunniffe.The concept was launched during an information meeting held last week in Cortoon Hall, where committee members also gave an update on the project.
The development was well received by the large crowd who attended.
Membership to Comrades of Cortoon Lavally works on a tiered basis, ranging from €260 annually for their comrade tier to €2,600 for the business comrade tier.
“We will be going door to door trying to get as many people signed up as we can and we got the first person signed up during our meeting last week,” added Karen.
“People are very supportive of what we are doing. So many people at the meeting asked how they can help us and volunteered to go door to door for us, alongside becoming members themselves. That shows the great camaraderie we have in this community.”
Karen noted the committee will also be looking into several grants to help pay for the project, which they hope can begin construction before the before the end of June 2027. Minor servicing works including wiring will be carried out in the meantime to prepare the site for construction.
Once completed, their attentions will turn to phase two of the development - an indoor sports hall to facilitate sports such as badminton and basketball, as well as other local community groups and gatherings.