About Lough Lene Gaels Hurling Club
The club serves the parish of Collinstown/Fore/Drumcree in Co Westmeath. It was founded in 1969 by an amalgamation of existing clubs. It is one of the leading Hurling Clubs in Co Westmeath with the potential to be a leading club in Leinster. The club has a very good track record in terms of achievements on the field of play, not least in winning seven Senior County Championships since the Clubs formation in 1969. The Club in recent years celebrated the 40th Anniversary of back to back County titles won in 1975 and 1976 and in 2019 will celebration the 50th anniversary of its establishment.
Lough Lene Gaels is an important resource in the local community, providing an outlet for young people to participate in sport in their own area, amongst their friends and families.
The club is carrying out significant development work with the assistance of a Sports Capital Grant. Development costs are estimated to be in the region of €170,000 at current contract rates but the Club hopes to reduce these costs somewhat and to complete the work by 2020.
The Club vision is to have a substantial facility consisting of two pitches, other training facilities as well as facilities for the use of the local community such as a walking path and, in the course of time, All-Weather sports facilities. The Club already has one playing pitch and additional land adjacent to the pitch was purchased some years ago in order to create the second pitch. The main pitch has undergone further development including drainage. The Club has been allocated a grant to complete both projects but additional funding is required so that both projects can be completed.
As well as the above the club is planning to more than double Club membership, devote more time and other resources to Coaching, especially young people, and generally improve the working of the Club as an important resource for young people especially, to participate in sport and for all of us to have facilities that we can use and be proud of.
Success in all of this is dependent on the support of club members, players, Club Officers, Managers, Coaches, Committee members, Parents, Supporters, and the wider local community.
Finance is vital. In order to make its plans a reality and at the same time continue to deliver a service to the people of the area the Club tries to continually provide community events and entertainment which also serve fund the clubs various activities. Since The Club believes it has wider responsibilities than merely the game of Hurling a social and Cultural committee has been established to promote these activities.
The club is currently taking part in the GAAs National Healthy Club Initiative. Under this initiative work is being carried out to support:
- Mental Fitness amongst players, other members and the wider community.
- Healthy Eating, also amongst players, other members and the wider community.
- Community Development incorporating all ages of people but particularly aimed at older people who may no longer be participating in sport at playing level.