Sport Capital Grant application

Loreto High School Beaufort and Loreto Hockey Club are jointly applying for a Sport Capital Grant to resurface an artificial hockey pitch at Loreto High School Beaufort. The project has a total cost of €240,000 and the applicants seek a Grant of €150,000 to complement their own funds.

Loreto Hockey Club will celebrate its 92nd year in 2018 and will continue its strong growth should this grant be approved. Currently 550 girls and women play for the club from under 8 to over 50 in Leinster leagues with its first team playing in the EY Hockey league and ranked 4th nationally. Club playing membership is expected to reach 750 by 2020.

Loreto High School Beaufort’s 640 students use the facility for PE, hockey, basketball, camogie, tennis and athletics. The facility is used extensively by the local community including Bros Pearse Athletics, Loreto Flyers Cyclists, Loreto Primary School, St Aidan’s Community School and Rathmines Women’s Refuge Centre. It is also a training base for Leinster and Irish Women’s Masters teams and hosts Leinster Junior Finals. In all it currently supports over 2,000 people participate in sport.

The investment made in 2006 in laying the current pitch has been invaluable to the Club, School and wider community. Its artificial surface has allowed a high level of usage but needs replacement every 10 years to remain fit for purpose. The securing of a Sports Capital Grant in 2017 will allow a new surface to be laid in 2018.

Loreto High School Beaufort and Loreto Hockey Club anticipate significant support for this development given the role it plays in supporting participation in Sport in the Community.

Margaret O’Donaghue,
Principal
Loreto High School Beaufort

Paula Cunniffe,
President Loreto Hockey Club