€100,000 milestone reached as work begins to shape on Daingean's new athletics track

Daingean Naomh Mhuire Athletics Club has passed the €100,000 mark in its community fundraising campaign, just two months after launching its drive to build a €1 million athletics and community sports facility for the Daingean area.

The club launched its campaign in late June with a target of €150,000, needed to bridge the funding gap on Phase 1 of the Gortakeel Development Project. Since then, support has arrived from families, businesses, community groups and former residents from across Offaly, throughout Ireland and as far afield as Britain, America and Australia.

More than 100 people have set up their own fundraising pages for the club, sharing the appeal with friends, family and workmates, and close to 2,000 individual donations have been made to date. Dozens of local and regional businesses have also come on board as corporate supporters of the campaign.

Work on the ground has moved on at pace over the summer. The full 400-metre oval has now been set out and formed on the club's lands at Gortakeel, the access roadway into the site has been completed, and the kerbing and stone base for the running surface are in place. What was cutaway bog a short time ago is now clearly recognisable as an athletics track. Phase 1 of the project comprises the 400-metre track, floodlighting and security fencing.

The club has planning permission in place and has secured grant approvals of approximately €200,000, including funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund and the LEADER programme. Phase 2 will deliver a clubhouse with changing rooms, toilets, showers, meeting space and community facilities.

Club Chairman Brenden Donagher said: "When we launched this campaign in June, we were asking people to back a plan on paper. Anyone who drives out to Gortakeel now can see a 400-metre track taking shape where there was nothing but bog. That has only happened because the community got behind us. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown, not just in Daingean but from people all over the country and abroad who still call this place home. There is still a distance to go, but for the first time this feels like something we are finishing rather than something we are starting."

Project Treasurer Gerard Cleary added: "Passing €100,000 in two months is a remarkable achievement for a club of our size, and every cent of it has come from people choosing to give. Over 100 members have gone out and fundraised themselves, and close to 2,000 separate donations have been made — most of them modest amounts that have added up to something substantial. We still need to reach €150,000 to complete Phase 1 as planned, so we would ask anyone who has not yet donated to consider doing so, and any business that would like to be associated with the project to get in touch with us."

Attention now turns to the club's 26 Counties Challenge, which takes place on Saturday 26 September. Teams representing each of the 26 counties will take part in the event, which the club hopes will carry the campaign towards its €150,000 target. Once complete, the facility will be available to local athletes, walkers, runners, schools, sports clubs and community groups, providing a safe and accessible place to train and exercise close to home and supporting participation in physical activity among people of all ages and abilities.

Daingean Naomh Mhuire Athletics Club is continuing to invite individuals, families and businesses at home and abroad to support the campaign. Details on how to donate and on corporate sponsorship packages are available through the club's social media channels and fundraising platform.