Great news reaching us this afternoon! #TeamWalterstown have scooped the Meath GAA Grounds of the Year Award for 2023.
We are thrilled and delighted to have received the award and it is testament to the superb work being put in by our volunteers.
Headed by Ian Reilly, our grounds committee have worked tirelessly all year to ensure our grounds were in pristine condition for the peak championship season and this award is in recognition of their great endeavours.
Of course 2023 saw the installation of our new fence and walkway round the main pitch, our new dugouts too and was also the year we unveiled our state-of-the-art new digital scoreboard. However, the maintenance and upkeep of our grounds and our pitches is about much more than new fences, dug-outs and scoreboards. Indeed, it is a constant slog and we are so lucky to have so many people willing to put their hands up and carry out this work for the betterment of Walterstown GFC.
A great shot of our main pitch and new scoreboard during the Senior Football Championship Relegation Final back in October
We hosted a number of championship games on behalf of Meath GAA in 2024, culminating in the Senior Football Championship relegation final involving Skryne and Moynalvey and the over-riding comments by all who attending those games was just how pristine our main pitched looked and played. A special mention to Kevin McKenna and Ian for their work on the main pitch this year and, of course, to Michael Meegan, Mark Meegan and Sean Cassidy from Signature Turf and Lawn Care, who brought our playing surface to a whole new level.
With in excess of 20 acres to maintain, our grounds would not be in the condition it is in without the hard work and generosity of people such as those mentioned above and people such as Declan Farrelly, Andy Hennelly, Shea Reynolds, Mike Chambers and Shane Barry.
In addition our gate crew, parking attendants, tuck shop volunteers and bar staff ensured that the hosting of big championship games ran super smoothly, while we also must thank local man Paddy O’Meara for the use of his land for additional parking on the day of the SFC relegation final.
Our new fencing and walkway was installed by Mulligan Fencing back in the summer and it has completely transformed our main pitch area. A big thank you to Christy Reynolds for managing that project and sourcing our new dugouts.
Back in July we hosted a Clean Up Our Club Day, spearheaded by club secretary Alicia Reynolds, and had an amazing response from our members. Thanks so much to each and every volunteer that came out that day and in the days afterwards to complete the painting of the clubhouse, cleaning of our dressing rooms and the gym and so much more. None of it would have been possible without the generosity Chris Foy who, not only donated all the paint for the building, but also supplies the club with paint to mark our pitches.
It also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our club Treasurer Darren Mulligan, who worked closely with the grounds committee on all projects in 2023.
Our start of the art digital scoreboard
Last, but by no means least, we couldn’t not mention the Donnellan Family when writing a post about winning the Grounds of the Year Award. Our new digital scoreboard is quite simply the pièce de résistance at #TeamWalterstown HQ and it wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for their generosity; so thank you Carmel, David and Julie.
Indeed, thanks to each and every single person who helped out this year; this award is a reflection of what collective hard work brings. As the old saying goes – you reap what you sow.
Well done one and all.
