Carlow Town's solar-powered project

Silverware may be scarce in recent years but Carlow Town Hurling and Camogie Club is leading the way in renewable energy resources where they have attached 64 solar panels onto the roof of their club house on Oak Park Road.

It is part of a project where GAA clubs around Ireland are actively engaging with the GAA Green Club Programme. 

This sustainability initiative began in 2020 to support clubs in making environmentally friendly moves to their grounds and activities.

Keith Moran is Chairman of the Carlow club.

“Our club is at the heart of the community. We felt action needed to be taken and we needed to lead by example,” he said.

With the help of Carlow County Council, the club conducted an energy audit. When completed, the Carlow Town official conceded the report did not make for easy reading.

“It basically came back very deficient and there were lots of areas for improvement,” Mr Moran said.

They came up with an extensive plan which included making sweeping changes to the current structure. They started with the low hanging fruit.

“Whether that was replacing plastic cups for the underage players with cups that you don’t throw away," the Chairman said.

"We have a boot bin up there for swapping boots. Mending hurls. We switched all the lights in the building to LED lights."

Then came the heavy lifting.

“We upgraded our insulation. One of the biggest areas was putting in the solar panels which would significantly reduce the clubs carbon footprint,” explained Moran.

The panels are only installed. It is too early to say how much savings have been made on their electricity bills. But Moran is certain this will be reflected in their next bill.

“It does take time but on that there are two points," he said. "It will significantly reduce the clubs carbon footprint and it will also significantly reduce the clubs electricity bill.

“The carbon footprint comes from the energy use in the building. We have the dressing room. It is a big building. 

"It was built back in 1968 and it was time for an upgrade. What we have done is one of the biggest levers to reduce the carbon footprint,” he points out.

There will be times when the club will be relatively quiet during the day and the sun will be beaming its own energy. That is when the solar panels will be in full production.

“We have put in a significant storage battery as part of the system. Any energy that is not used will be stored in what is, basically, a state of the art system. 

"We feel this system is future proofed based on our energy usage. We really do see the bills will be minimal going forward,” predicts the chairman who says the battery will be working the whole year round.

“The fact that it is stored there over the winter months when you would not be getting the same sunlight, the battery will see us through even though the solar panels are not generating much electricity during the winter.” 

The club got a grant from the National Climate Fund. This was administered through Carlow County Council. 

The hurling club got on well with the Council.

“It was their advice and support which was critical for us to make sure we qualified," Moran said. "Certain criteria had to be met and there had to be a certain investment from the club. We were united as an executive and as a club that this was the right thing to do.” 

The money saved on electricity bills will be reinvested into the club for coaching, player development and community programs.

Moran has two sets of people who he particularly wants to single out for praise.

“I would definitely like to praise Carlow County Council for working on a plan with us and providing that extra advise for looking at our overall Carlow footprint," he noted.

It also helps that the club members have got behind the project.

“The culture focuses on sustainability. It resonates strongly as our value and as a club we are inclusive. We are forward thinking. We put community at the heart of our club.” 

And now that the work has been done on the clubhouse, can Carlow return itself to former glories. They last won a senior championship in 1988 and have ten titles to their name.

“Don’t get me started on that one,” says Moran.

“We are knocking on the door. We have a good minor team, some great under 20s. Next year hopefully (a return to senior ranks). 

"We were very disappointed to lose the intermediate semi-final this year. Our goal is to get back to competitive senior hurling.”