The official opening of the Catholic Institute New Hockey facility was marked by a special event at which Minister Patrick O’Donovan presided, formally recognising the achievement, and celebrating the collective effort that brought the project to fruition.
His presence underscored the importance of government support in enabling community-led initiatives to thrive and highlighted the role of the Sports Capital Projects Programme in strengthening local sporting infrastructure
The pathway for this project involved the appointment of three separate committees: one for the grant application, one for fundraising, and a project management committee focused on pitch development.
Significant milestones were achieved, notably the awarding of the grant through the Sports Capital Projects Programme, a key government funding initiative designed to support the development of sporting infrastructure nationwide. This programme is administered under the remit of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, headed by Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD.
The fundraising committee successfully met its targets through a range of initiatives, including corporate sponsorship, the sale of commemorative bricks, and individual contributions.
Much of this success was underpinned by the goodwill and commitment of the club’s strong membership across Hockey, Squash, and Tennis.
This spirit of teamwork and collaboration ensured the timely delivery and completion of the new hockey pitch, ready for the start of the new season in September 2025.
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