THIEVES dealt a huge financial blow to Tralee Rugby Club at the weekend when they stole 2o floodlights from the club grounds.

The lights, which will cost an estimated €4,000 to replace, were in the process of being moved to from one part of the grounds to their newly-developed training pitch at the time.

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The theft is believed to have taken place at the club grounds, O’Dowd Park in Clahane, sometime between Friday and Monday morning, when it was discovered by electrician Garrett Walsh, who arrived to work on the installation.

“We’re very disappointed. We had just stood the poles. We were about the put the lights on them and then they go missing,” said Chairman of the club Jeremy Walsh, who explained the lights were being stored in a shed on the grounds.

“We’re hoping to get them back somehow, but if we don’t, we may not have the money to put up replacements just yet. Extra fund-raising will be required and trying to do that in the current environment is not easy,” he said.

Mr Walsh appealed to public to forward any information they might have, or if they saw anything suspicious in the area at the weekend to contact Tralee Garda Station on 066-7102300.