Rory McIlroy
THE world’s number one golfer, Rory McIlroy, has lent support to Kerry GAA as they seek to complete the €5.8 million Centre of Excellence in Currans.
The four-time Major champion has donated signed and mounted flags which are to be sold at a Kerry GAA fundraiser in New York on May 28 at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
Offaly man Shane Lowry, whose father, Brendan, played in the side that stopped the five-in-a-row in 1982, has donated a pitching wedge.
Comedian and actor, Denis Leary, whose parents both hail from Killarney has donated a signed box set of his comedy highlights.
The proposed layout of the Kerry GAA Currans Training Facility.
To date, €4.7 million has been raised for the €5.8 million project, leaving €1.1 million yet to be raised.
The national GAA/Croke Park, the Munster GAA Council and team sponsor Kerry Group have each donated a million euros.
Friends of Kerry pledged €700,000 and the National Lottery gave €300,000. The county board must raise the remainder.
The Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence will incorporate two locations, a co-hosted GAA facility at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, and six playing fields with a training facility at Currans near Kerry Airport.
Kerry senior manager, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, says the county has fallen behind other teams who have built centres of excellence in recent years.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice. Photo by Dermot Crean.
“The facility will be more convenient and more professional, it will be fantastic for training and our identity, and it will take us another step into the future” he said.
“Raising money is tough work, and it’s really appreciated. The players and management are excited about using the facilities next year, the sooner the better,” he said.
Some of the unique Kerry donations created specifically for the event include a portrait of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh by renowned painter Liam O’Neill, and a four-foot-high urn by potter Louis Mulcahy depicting Saint Brendan sailing to America and the Statue of Liberty.
Tony O’Shea of Ambri Board Wood Pieces carved a Gaelic football out of 200-year-old wood that is mounted and signed by five top All-Ireland winners.
Initial planning permission has been granted, and site work began at Currans on the first three sand-based pitches in Autumn, 2014. They will be ready for play by spring 2016.
