Professor Ciarán O Catháin, President of Athletics Ireland & Mr. Paddy McCaul, President of FAI jointly officially opened a 70 m x 40 m Flood lit Astro Turf Pitch in Lisnamult, Roscommon Town earlier this week. (Monday) Blessing by Monsignor Charles Travers.
This flood lit astro turf pitch which accommodates 2 large 5 a side pitches was funded by Roscommon Leader Partnership and local fundraising. ( €129,000 from Roscommon Leader Partnership - 75% of the cost of project which is just over €172,000). Cllr. Leyden thanked Frank Dawson, County Manager Roscommon County Council & Kathleen Martin, Director of Service for entering into a 99 year lease agreement with the community group for additional lands to facilitate this project.
Cllr. Orla Leyden, chairperson of the Roscommon community sports park committee said that the opening of this new community facility is great news for Roscommon town and surrounding areas as up to now underage teams and teams of all ages have had to travel outside the town to access astro turf facilities in Athlone, Newbridge and elsewhere. Cllr Leyden thanked Lisnamult Residents Association for supporting this project , generously sharing their resources and working with Roscommon Community Sports Park Committee who represent various community groups in including athletics, soccer, disability sports including special Olympics, community games to make this Astro turf pitch happen. She also thanked Roscommon Town Youth Soccer for actively driving this project from the start.
She added that this is the first phase of an ambitious community sports park project in Roscommon Town, the next phases include additional changing room facilities and a much needed 400 metre athletics track.