A bulldozer, a ramp and lots of balls and prizes

GAELSCOIL NA CRUAICHE will be holding a ‘ball run’ fundraiser this June to gather funds for an artificial grass area.

A novel approach to fundraising, the ball run will see a bulldozer release balls down a 14-foot-high ramp constructed by the committee. The first 20 balls to reach the end will be collected and advanced to a final round, when the prize-winning entries are determined. Twenty prizes will be given away on the day with a total value of approximately €8000.

This fun event is set to take place Sunday, June 9, between 2pm and 4pm at the school.

The Westport school, with 200 pupils and 13 teachers, currently has a concrete play area for younger children, surrounded by a grass area, but between constant rain and drainage issues, it has led to unfavourable conditions for the children.

Alan O’Brien from the Parents Committee told The Mayo News that the increased levels of rainfall in the last few years has ‘compromised’ this area.

“Artificial grass on this space would be of a huge benefit to all our children,” said Mr O’Brien.

He continued: “At the Gaelscoil we strive to encourage all children, girls and boys, to participate in sports throughout the year and to foster a lifelong love of sports, like camogie and football. A grassed area would be of great assistance to us continuing our efforts.

“Also, since we started on this quest we are seeing that best practice in schools today is the installation of artificial grass rather than Astroturf, which will be our solution. It will also be an amenity which we hope will benefit the wider community and local sports clubs, and this is all down to the supporters of this ball run,” he said.

Initial tests videos of the ball run are available to view on the school’s Instagram page. Prizes in the ball run include a €1,500 Center Parcs voucher, a stay in Westport and an iPhone 15 Pro. Tickets for the fundraiser are available to purchase via GoFundMe. Entries cost €10 per ball.

Alternatively, people can put their name down and pay cash in local Westport businesses, including Chilli Coffee Shop, Berry’s Stationery Shop, Christine’s, O’Briens, McLaughlin’s, SuperValu, Lally Pharmacy, Express Cleaning, and Gray’s Barbershop.

The school’s parents’ committee is also inviting any of the town’s business community who would like to donate towards the amenity to contact 087 9072058 or 089 2518830. See advert below for more information on the ball run.