The new artificial astroturf pitch in Mulvey Park, Castlebar, will be a welcome addition from Mayo GAA. Pic: Sportsfile
The works on the new astroturf pitch in Castlebar are in full swing.
Mayo GAA are building a 4G astroturf surface for the Lower Mulvey Park pitch.
Last week, the top soil was removed from the pitch, as Mayo GAA Vice-Chairperson Michael Diskin confirmed to The Mayo News:
“After the removal of the top soil, then the site needs to be levelled and that's happening at the moment. Then they'll put in the drains and top that off then with some broken stone to basically as the foundation for the Astroturf carpet.”
Diskin explained the new astroturf will function as an all-weather pitch for Mayo football and hurling teams, quoting the special needs in the West of Ireland:
“We can't ignore the reality that we have climate change. We're getting very heavy rainfall like we did ten days ago. The astroturf will be extremely well drained and we'll be able to allow teams to train there without impacting on the surface.”
Mayo GAA delegates rubber-stamped the plans for the astroturf pitch at a county board meeting in early September.
Mayo GAA Chairperson Seamus Tuohy said: “We have carefully examined all aspects of the project from design, planning, financial considerations and feasibility. It is crystal clear that the demand and need for a state-of-the-art, all-weather pitch is overwhelming.
This development is about ensuring Mayo GAA has the infrastructure to support players year-round, at every level,” said Seamus Tuohy.
According to Diskin, the new astroturf costs about €800,000, but Chairperson Seamus Tuohy assured the delegates of the September county board meeting, that there would be no additional financial burden on the clubs to pay for this new facility.
It is expected, that the pitch will be ready for action in January next year or if weather allows, Christmas this year.
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