The Gods and ‘The Dean’ were smiling down on Clonduff Park today, Sunday 5th May for the inaugural Dean Davies Fun Day and the Official Opening of the new Clonduff Gym and Shop Complex.
It was a great community day with lots of kids and their parents who enjoyed 4 hours of uninterrupted dry weather, great craic and lots to keep the little ones occupied.
The highlight of the event was the official opening of the new gym for Strength & Conditioning/Athletic Development of all players across all codes from U14 upwards. The new development houses a new club shop, physio room, toilets and external CCTV monitoring. Fr Charlie Byrne PP and Club Vice President blessed the complex before Club President Fintan Mussen declared the complex officially open with the cutting of the tape.
Club Chair, Ross Carr, in introducing Fr Charlie and Finty spoke of the impact Dean Davies’ legacy had on Clonduff Club and how it was to be used. He also acknowledged the huge financial impact the ‘Clonduff At the Races’ organised by Niall Rafferty’s group had on the completion of this new facility. Finty spoke of milestones in the history of Clonduff’s facilities and stated that this one was of such importance for the future of Clonduff players across all the codes.
There then followed a presentation of long-serving gate man Paddy Morgan on the occasion of his retirement.
The children’s activities included a number of outdoor inflatables including a dart board, ball wheel, basket ball net, and there was sumo wrestling, bouncing bronco, Connect 4, face painting and ‘full-length portraits’. For the adults (and the children) there was the, as always delicious, Clonduff Burgers and Select Coffee (new coffee facility within shop). But for the toddlers, the ‘Tractor Run’ was without compare. The great weather afforded the shop clearance sale to take place outdoors. DJ King kept the crowd entertained all afternoon with his non-stop selection of music and songs.
Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who helped organise, run and clear up at the end of the day. (Incidentally, activities had just ceased when we were treated to ‘normal’ weather, ie a shower of rain! But it was OK for it to appear at that time of day!
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