Hi, I’m Louise, Chairperson of Dungarvan Hockey Club. We’re reaching out to our community, supporters, and anyone who believes in the power of sport to help us build a brand-new Astroturf hockey pitch at the Friary College in Dungarvan.

Our club has been part of the community since 1983, starting out on grass at the local rugby club. In 1990, the Friary built an all-weather hockey pitch—officially opened by President Mary Robinson in 1991—and it has been our home ever since.

Today, Dungarvan Hockey Club is one of only two clubs in Ireland still playing on a grit surface. While we’re proud of our history, this surface has become a major barrier to our growth. Grit pitches demand constant maintenance—raking, lining, weeding, moss treatment, and frequent re-gritting—much of which is done by our own players, all of whom are female.

Despite these challenges, our players have achieved incredible success: Munster league titles, Munster cups, two All-Ireland Finals, and representation at both provincial and national level.

But to keep growing, we need your help.

Training is often cancelled due to the pitch being unsafe, affected by weather, fallen trees, or lighting failures. The unpredictable bounce of the grit surface affects every match and training session. Teams across Munster regularly voice concerns about having to play on it. Our players deserve better—and so do the 300 active members who call this club home.

Our club includes members aged 6 to 50, offering social and competitive hockey, mixed participation, inclusive taster sessions for players with disabilities, and education for coaches, volunteers, and umpires. We are a volunteer-run club, passionate about making hockey accessible to all.

We’ve dreamed of building an Astroturf pitch for many years. Thanks to previous fundraising efforts, we have already secured €40,000—a fantastic start. However, the full project, including the pitch, upgraded lighting, security fencing, and changing facilities, is expected to cost over €800,000.

This is a big goal, but it’s a necessary one—and with your support, we can achieve it.

Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to giving our players the safe, modern facility they deserve.

We’re famous for our grit in Dungarvan—but it’s time we stopped playing on it.

Please help us build our new Astroturf pitch.

Thank you for your support.