Galway In Days Gone By

Sporting facilities

The provision of properly equipped grounds for Gaelic athletics is at present engaging the attention of the G.A.A. Outside of the Irish metropolis there are few counties that can boast the ideal playing pitch.

In Co. Galway, the lack of suitable grounds is seriously militating against our Gaelic games, and enthusiastic supporters of these have been not a little discouraged as the result of a recent incident in the county where an owner refused to give the use of a field until he was guaranteed a sum named by himself for its use.

The ‘Gaelic Athlete’ of last week calls attention to the mater in its leading article, pointing out that at the present time few grounds belong to the G.A.A., and frequently an entirely disproportionate figure has to be paid for the use of a field, the tenant’s interest in which should be purchasable at about ten times the sum charged for a single hiring.

This, of course, applies to the bare field alone. If it is to be turned into a ground for the deciding of important contests, a considerable amount will be required to cover draining and levelling, and the erection of fences, paling, pavilions and stands.

Pictured: Some of the attendance at opening and blessing of Abbeyknockmoy’s £40,000 Community Centre by Archbishop of Tuam, Joseph Cunnane, on April 4, 1982.