Sports Partnership Raise over €90,000

By Cliona Connolly
Monaghan Post

THE SPORTS Partnership raised in excess of €90,000 for the Sports Complex through a fundraising draw, held on Sunday night last. The prize draw brought a winning smile to many locals with a car and cash prizes won on the night.

First prize of a new Toyota Corolla was won by Rory Newell of Beech Grove, Clones. Two cash prizes of €1,000 prizes were won by Josephine Treanor and Bridget Cleary. Three €500 prizes and five €200 prizes were also won on the night.

The fundraiser was held in aid of the proposed sports complex will include a 400 metre running track, an all-weather pitch and a community sports building with meeting rooms, changing rooms and a treatment room. The facility will be located at Millbrook and will require the relocation of the existing Coyle’s GAA pitch and redevelopment of a second pitch.

“Money raised from this draw will raise the community contribution towards the state of the art sports facility for Clones and its hinterland of Monaghan, Cavan and Fermanagh,” said Josephine Treanor of Clones Community Forum .

Ms Treanor said the partnership was inspired by the vision of a state-of-the-art Sports Complex. She explained that the project had made the final nine of a funding application for €7.5 million under the Peace 3 Shared Public Spaces project. The final application was delivered last Thursday and results are due in early 2008. “We have a dream, we only hope we can make that dream a reality,” Ms Treanor added.

The winning tickets were drawn by Seamus McEneaney who praised the partnership “It’s a fabulous sports project for the Community a brilliant opportunity for Clones to come together. We know there are a lot of distractions that we don’t want our kids involved in, so the best way forward is through sport. Very seldom does life go wrong for young people who are heavily involved and dedicated to sport.”

Tom Kelly, Chairman of Clones GAA club said it was very encouraging to see such a large turnout on Sunday night and thanked all who sold tickets and those who bought them.

Thanks also went to Clones Credit Union who sponsored the launch of the draw and the food on Sunday night, toTony and Michelle Morgan who sponsored the print of the tickets and to Tony Coyle for the provision of the site at Millbrook.