New walking track opened in Carlow Rugby Club
Pictured at opening of Carlow RFC's walking track - Derek Hayden, Minister Murnane O'Connor, Adam Kavanagh, Anna Marie Hughes (IRFU), and Melvin Elmes
County Carlow Football Club has installed a new walking track around its rugby pitches in Oak Park. The project is part of a grant aided nationwide drive by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Healthy Ireland to encourage rugby clubs to provide community facilities for exercise and well being.
The ribbon on the new Walking Track in Oak Park was cut and the facility formally opened by Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, local TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health. The Minister stressed the importance of healthy lifestyle which her Department is promoting through initiatives such as the new walking track Carlow Club President Adam Kavanagh welcomed the Minister and thanked the IRFU and Healthy Ireland for the grant which enabled the project to happen.
The new walking track is part of the rugby club’s ongoing improvement programme which also includes new fencing and a relaying of the clubs number one playing pitch.
Adam Kavanagh also stressed the involvement of the Carlow rugby club in the local community over its long history which now stretches to 153 years.
“We cater for men and women, including adults, youths and minis of both genders. We are especially proud of Carlow Bees which caters for children from the community with special needs.”
The Oak Park project was managed by a committee from the Club including Derek Hayden, Melvin Elmes, Michael and Brendan Carbery, Justin Hannon, Bob Keady, Ian Dwyer and Aurlene Browne. Local contractor Conor Cummins carried out the work. The ongoing project is being managed by Club President elect Kevin Fahy.
The new walking track already extends to close to one kilometre of clean solid safe walking space. It includes one length of concrete path. The walkway passes through pleasant parkland and there are plans to extend the walking track at a future date.
