Rallying call for home in Spain draw

A rallying call has been issued by Westmeath GAA as their fundraising venture for a new centre of excellence faces a challenge.

Westmeath county committee chairman Frank Mescall insists the Win a home in Spain draw will be a success, but he is urging all GAA clubs to make a renewed effort with the €100 tickets.

Highlighting the significance of this first phase, he chairman positively about the draw and the role of the GAA. It will cost over €1m to purchase the land, completing phase one, and approximately €15m will be spent on the completed project.

“We are in profit – we will reach close to our target of €1m. I am confident of that. Some GAA clubs can be lazy; like me, they need a spur at times. They will come good. The GAA is fantastic as an organisation; at times we get bad PR, grab all association and all that, but the GAA are exemplary,” he said.

“Where post offices have closed and the local shop is gone, the GAA club is there, a focal point for communities. They will rally to the call; if they would do it a little bit sooner, it would be great. It would give everyone the lift and motivation to go the extra mile for this.”

Some clubs have sold their allocations, others have not started, but clubs can be inventive. “I am cognisant that €100 is a big ask, but you can go into partnership to buy it with family members. Club Iarmhí sold 10 tickets, for example, in a €5 per line draw. Clubs are guardians of Westmeath GAA and need to support this project,” the chairman explained.

He is keen to push the idea of a new home for all Westmeath GAA teams in all codes – rather than labelling it a centre of excellence as has become the norm around the country.

“Centre of excellence is a grandiose term; I prefer to call it a home for Westmeath GAA. The GAA has developed so much now we need pitches to train on, for football, LGFA and camogie. This centre will be a home for everyone in Westmeath GAA.”

The project will include six pitches, near the current 3G pitch at Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, dressings rooms, gym, medical centre, auditorium, and car parking facilities. “It will have everything the modern GAA person needs,” the chairman said.