Galway soccer and hockey clubs' war of words over 2G pitch plans for Renmore

Renmore Hockey Club and its provincial governing body, Connacht Hockey described the claims as “inaccurate” and “potentially misleading”.

Chairman of the club, Mike Crowe, a Galway City Councillor, said the proposed surface, “would pose a safety concern” for children and juvenile members who played soccer on it.

“It may well be a suitable surface for hockey but it is not for soccer,” Renmore AFC committee said.

This message was relayed to members of the soccer club last weekend.

It prompted a response from representatives of Connacht Hockey and Renmore Hockey Club, who insisted that 2G was a safe surface.

A full-sized 3G pitch, which is synthetic and suitable for soccer and rugby, is included in the new plans, which were presented to the community again at a meeting last Monday.

The proposal also includes for a 2G pitch suitable for hockey.

Renmore Hockey Club and Connacht Hockey said 2G surfaces are the “recognised international standard for hockey, including youth participation” and they are “used safely across schools, clubs, and community facilities throughout Ireland and beyond”.

“There is no credible evidence to support the suggestion that these surfaces pose a risk to children,” the hockey organisations said.

Connacht Hockey said comments made by Councillor Crowe, chair of Renmore AFC, were “concerning”.

“Presenting unsupported safety claims as fact risks creating unnecessary alarm among parents, distorting the public consultation process, and influencing outcomes on a basis that is not grounded in evidence or accepted standards,” the provincial governing body said.

Mike Crowe said he made the comments in his capacity as chair of Renmore AFC, and had its imprimatur.

“Of course 2G is safe for hockey, it’s a hockey pitch but it is not safe for soccer,” he said.

The submission by Renmore Hockey Club, he said noted 2G was suitable for “hockey, walking hockey, and walking soccer”.

“I don’t know what walking soccer is. You can’t jog with a ball on a 2G pitch, you can’t tackle on it,” Councillor Crowe said.

Renmore Hockey Club said it has been part of the community for over 45 years giving generations of players – mostly girls – opportunities to play sport.

“Little effort was made to give girls a place to play other sports until recent years . . . but we have always been there for the girls in our community,” it said.

The club has lost facilities in recent years as two pitches – Mervue and Oranmore – changed from 2G to 3G, which is unsuitable for hockey.

The club is relying on late night slots at Dangan for training for teenage and adult teams.

“No one club owns the community spaces despite having benefitted from preferential treatment for years,” Renmore Hockey Club said.

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Renmore AFC said its club has been “at the heart of these pitches for over 40 years”, and it “played a central role in securing” €300,000 for the project that is currently being planned.

It said it has a waiting list of local children who want to play soccer. “A surface that doesn’t support soccer will only make that problem worse,” the club said.

Renmore AFC pointed out that its clubhouse is located at the site of this development and they insist that any new pitch surfaces “must be suitable for soccer”.

“The surface requirements for each sport are completely different. Maybe there’s a compromise that can be reached, I’m not sure,” said Mike Crowe.

The Connacht Hockey Executive Committee called on Renmore AFC and specifically its chair, Councillor Mike Crowe, to correct the record about the safety of 2G pitches for children.

“Connacht Hockey remains committed to positive engagement and to the delivery of inclusive, well-planned community facilities that serve all users. We respectfully ask that the Renmore planning process proceeds based on factual accuracy, transparency, and fairness,” it added.