DRINAGH Rangers have turned a dream into reality. The West Cork League club’s new state-of-the-art all-weather facility at Canon Crowley Park is the stunning result of years of hard work, community effort and vision.

A floodlit, full-size astroturf pitch and walkway now stand as a testament to what can be achieved when a small club thinks big – and it’s set to become one of the region’s most sought-after sports facilities.

Formed in 1983, Drinagh Rangers have long been synonymous with West Cork League football. Now, as the club officially opens its new home, it’s looking firmly to the future.

‘It all started a couple of years ago when we decided it was time to future-proof and plan for our club’s future,’ Shane Connolly told The Southern Star. Along with Robert O’Regan, Ken Kingston and Danny McQueen, Connolly was part of a team that got the ball rolling on Drinagh’s new venture.

Aided by chairman Don Hurley, a determined committee, an enthusiastic community and local GAA club Clann na nGael, Rangers’ dreams have been fulfilled.

‘We decided the next step should be a full-size astroturf pitch to help develop our players and club,’ Connolly continued.

‘We are very community-based here in Drinagh. So, we decided to incorporate a walkway as part of our plans. It’s a fantastic addition.’

Drinagh Rangers B's Liam Daly is tackled by Drinagh Rangers' Tom McQueen during first game on the new pitch.

All well and good, but the time and effort needed to raise the funds for such a superb facility required careful planning and execution.

‘We first met up in February 2022,’ Danny McQueen explained.

‘Initially, the four of us got together to sound out the future of our club and an astroturf pitch ticked all the boxes. This was only a pipe dream at first. We got planning permission, a Sports Capital grant and started fundraising only about 12 months ago.

‘To have the facility up and running in just over 12 months is unbelievable really, thanks to a lot of hard work. We’re lucky. You can never have enough help and we do have a lot of help, everyone pulling in the same direction.

‘It took a great community effort.’

Drinagh Rangers committee members on the night of the first game on their new astraturf pitch and new lights. Front, from left, Robert O'Regan, development committee; Shane Connolly, project manager; and Don Hurley, chairperson. Back, from left, Declan Deasy, secretary; Caroline Hurley, treasurer; Ken Kingston, development committee; Michael Doolan, PRO, and Danny McQueen, development committee.

Shane Connolly added: ‘Organising a 300-club draw was a big success but I don’t think we could have completed this new development without our Squid Games joint-fundraiser. We need to say a huge thanks to all our supporters and also Clann na nGael GAA Club in Drimoleague who partnered with us on the Squid Games fundraiser.’

Drinagh Rangers and Drinagh Rangers B’s recent West Cork League Premier Division derby was the first official game played on the new astroturf. The match, despite abject weather conditions, was completed under floodlights and went off without a hitch.

As well as a new pitch, the addition of a walkway around the Canon Crowley Park grounds will benefit the Drimoleague community and local areas.

‘When it is fully completed, we will have a fully-lit walkway,’ club chairman Don Hurley stated.

‘That will be a huge benefit to our local community, for people to have a safe place to meet up and go for a walk. We have built this facility for everyone in our community and is open to anyone that wishes to make use of it.

‘Hopefully, our facility will benefit people from all over West Cork as well as the West Cork League, West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League and West Cork Academy. ‘This is going to make a huge difference to soccer in West Cork.

‘We absolutely welcome any other sports clubs or organisations who want to make use of Canon Crowley Par. There has already been a lot of interest.’

• The official opening of Drinagh Rangers' new club facilities takes place in Canon Crowley Park this Saturday, November 15th, at 5pm.