Tubberclair GAA playing facilities expansion approved

Tubberclair GAA has been granted approval for an expansion of its playing facilities at Farnamoreen, Glasson, Athlone.

Westmeath County Council rubber-stamped a planning bid lodged by the GAA club, which includes the development of two grass playing pitches with floodlights, two goal ballstops, a single storey extension to existing sports equipment shed, overflow carpark with public lighting, the demolition of an agricultural hayshed, minor works to the existing site entrance and all with associated site works.

The planning application for the proposed development, on an overall site area of 10.64 hectares, was submitted to Westmeath County Council in July.

The local authority granted approval for the facilities works subject to twelve conditions, one of which was that, the "playing pitches and associated floodlighting" shall not be used between 10pm and 8am.

The floodlights must also be "cowled" and "directed onto the playing surface of the grassed pitch and all-weather playing surface" and "away from neighbouring properties and the public road network", in the interest of "visual amenity" and to "protect the residential amenity of properties in the vicinity" of the development.

Tubberclair GAA purchased the neighbouring lands adjacent to its club grounds last year to facilitate the expansion.

A planning statement submitted as part of the planning application in July said the club's aim is to "provide sustainable playing areas on the western side of their existing site".

Tubberclair GAA launched a major fundraising campaign in 2025 in support of the land purchase for the proposed development, describing it as "a pivotal step towards realising a shared, inclusive amenity that will serve both the club and community for generations to come".

At the time of the land purchase, the club stated that it was able to fund 25 percent of the transaction directly. The remaining balance of the purchase, €300,000, was secured through a GAA-approved loan from Clann Credo.

This fundraising campaign, which reached over €337,000 at the end of 2025, has now allowed the club to move forward with its proposed development plans "debt free" with all future donations "ring-fenced exclusively for the development of the agreed projects".