Nenagh Ormond Light Up Lisatunny
Munster and Ireland prop John Hayes was on hand on Tuesday night to official switch on Nenagh Ormond’s new floodlighting system at New Ormond Park, and the Tipperary club crowned the occasion by hosting a friendly match between the Munster ‘A’ team and a touring Russian side.
The fine weather and bouyant atmosphere, after a record 14 Ireland players were named in the Lions squad, added to the occasion at New Ormond Park on Tuesday as a crowd close to 2,000 were present for the official unveiling of the Nenagh Ormond floodlights.
Munster prop and Ireland’s most-capped player John Hayes switched on the new lights for the first time, while the Nenagh Ormond Brass Band treated the spectators to a number of tunes before the Munster ‘A’ team battled their way to a 27-21 win over a Russian selection.
Undoubtedly a successful night all-round at Lisatunny, Nenagh Ormond RFC President Tommy Moylan said: “It was a great honour and privilege for me, as club President, to witness the official unveiling our match grade floodlighting project.
“In 2005 the club undertook a development project to improve our club facilities here in Lisatunny. A development committee was set up under the chairmanship of Ger Lewis.
“They brought proposals forward for an extension to our dressing rooms, shower area main clubhouse and also for installation of floodlighting.
“Planning permission was obtained and an application was made and was successful for a grant of €;60,000 from the Sports Capital Grant scheme from the Department of Sport, Arts and Tourism.
“However, during 2008, the club had been reassessing our development priorities. In conjunction with discussions with our development officers in the Munster Branch and the IRFU, we have reprioritised that floodlighting of our playing pitches at our club ground at Lisatunny is now our main priority in order to enhance and maximise our club facilities.
“As a club we have seen our underage section (6 to 14-years-old) expand dramatically over the last number of years.
“However, from the ages of 16 to 20 and subsequently into adult rugby we have seen a drop off in numbers playing rugby.
“It has been identified by us as a club that if our main playing pitches were floodlit to match standard it would enable us to play games at times and days that would suit all players, especially underage players.
“These games could take place on any week or weekend night and would therefore enable us attract more of our older underage players to stay playing the game.
“We also feel that if some of our underage games could be played at night on various nights that this would also help ease the pressure on our dressing rooms at peak times on a Sunday morning. It would also help to increase the number of pitches available to us for training purposes.”
With assistance from Nenagh Town Council and North Tipperary County Council, the full project was completed to the tune of €;160,000.
Along with various grants, the club have also undertaken a major financing project over the last number of years.
This has resulted in the project been completed without subjecting the club to any major financial burden.
Moylan gave particular thanks to Ger O’Gorman who has organised Nenagh Ormond’s various club draws over the last number of years as part of their fundraising activites.
Nenagh Ormond RFC, who have just completed their fourth season in AIB League Division Three, was founded in 1884 and has always enjoyed widespread support across all cultural, economic and religious divides.
The club has been the most successful junior club in Munster (winners of the greatest number of junior titles in the province).
In April 2005, they were the first Tipperary rugby club to be promoted to senior status and are now regulars in the AIB League.
Nenagh currently have over 320 adult members and their adult playing members (male and female) now total over 130 people, spread across three adult male squads, a ladies squad and an Under-20 panel.
They also currently have over 250 juvenile playing members and have juvenile squads at every age level from Under-8s up to Under-18s.
Their club grounds are situated in Lisatunny in Nenagh and they also have a training pitch located at Tyone. The club covers a wide catchment area from Nenagh town out to the extensive hinterland.
They draw both playing membership and club membership from surrounding areas including Newtown, Portroe, Silvermines, Ballywilliam, Puckane, Dromineer, Borrisokane and Lower Ormond and Toomevara.
Also, in association with the Munster Branch, Nenagh Ormond co-fund a local Youth Development Officer whose responsibilities are to encourage and increase the number of juvenile playing rugby.
To this end, their YDO, Pat Fitzpatrick, makes weekly visit to a number of primary and secondary schools in the area to hold workshops and training sessions with various classes to introduce younger members to rugby.
Nenagh Ormond have a vibrant committee and general support that has seen the club go from strength to strength.
Moylan thanked former and current officers, members, players and supporters who have given their free and voluntary time to make NORFC the successful club it is today.
Nenagh Ormond Floodlights Launch Pics