Tuesday, November 10 – Nenagh, Co. Tipperary: The new all-weather hockey pitch at Nenagh College was officially opened on Monday, marking a significant milestone for Nenagh Hockey Club and the wider North Tipperary community. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin performed the official opening, with Hockey Ireland CEO Richard Fahey among those in attendance alongside representatives of Nenagh Hockey Club, Nenagh College, Tipperary Education and Training Board and the local community.
The new facility is the result of a collaborative effort involving Nenagh Hockey Club, Nenagh College, Tipperary ETB and Hockey Ireland, supported by government investment through the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSSF) and significant local fundraising. Approximately €475,000 was provided through the fund, with Nenagh HC and its supporters contributing substantially to the wider development.
For Nenagh Hockey Club, the opening comes just over a year after the club made history by fielding its first men’s team in the Munster Senior League for 100 years. That achievement represented another major step in the revival of hockey in North Tipperary, following the club’s reformation in 2019.
The return of men’s senior hockey was accompanied by continued growth across the club’s women’s and underage sections. Players from Nenagh, Roscrea and Cashel New Inn came together to represent Nenagh HC in senior competition, while the club continued to develop opportunities for boys and girls across its age groups.
The new pitch provides the infrastructure required to build on that progress and gives the club a dedicated facility in the town from which it can continue to develop its playing, coaching and participation programmes.
The achievement is also a reflection of the significant voluntary effort within Nenagh HC. The club’s committee, pitch development team, trustees, fundraisers, coaches, players and members have collectively contributed to the development of the project over several years. Their work has included fundraising, project development and building the relationships required to bring together the club, college, ETB and public funding bodies.
That partnership has been central to the success of the project. Nenagh College and Tipperary ETB have provided the setting and institutional support for the facility, while the club has brought the sporting expertise, volunteer capacity and ambition to develop hockey in the region.
The result is a facility that will serve both the school and the wider community. Students at Nenagh College will have access to a modern all-weather sporting facility, while Nenagh HC will have greater capacity to train and host matches. The multi-sport nature of the development also provides opportunities for wider community use.
Speaking at the opening, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin highlighted the contribution of volunteers, coaches and administrators to grassroots sport and recognised the partnership between Nenagh Hockey Club, Nenagh College and Tipperary ETB. He also acknowledged the importance of investing in sporting facilities that can support participation and community activity.
The development provides a strong example of how the Community Sport Facilities Fund can support locally driven projects. Government investment has been combined with local fundraising, voluntary effort and the commitment of an education provider to create a facility with benefits extending beyond any single organisation.
For Nenagh HC, the timing is particularly significant. In just a few years, the club has progressed from its reformation in 2019 to establishing a growing underage structure, developing senior men’s and women’s hockey and returning men’s hockey to the Munster Senior League after a century-long absence.
The new pitch provides an important foundation for the next stage of that development. It will support the club’s ambition to increase participation, strengthen the pathway from school to club hockey, and provide greater opportunities for players across North Tipperary.
The Nenagh project demonstrates what can be achieved when a grassroots club, an education provider, an ETB, government, and the local community work towards a shared objective. It is a model that could provide encouragement to other clubs seeking to develop facilities and participation in their own communities.
For Nenagh Hockey Club, the opening is the culmination of a substantial amount of work by its volunteers and partners, and provides the club with the facilities and capacity to continue the growth of hockey in North Tipperary for years to come.
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