Westport GAA receive €1 million donation towards new pitch project

WESTPORT GAA Club have received a donation of €500,000 for their new pitch development on the Golf Course Road in the town. And there's the promise of a further €500,000 in the future from the Kenny family of Westport, whose father, Jack Kenny, played an integral part in the development of the club as a player and club chairman over a number of decades from the 1920s right through to the late '50s.

It's the second bit of good news for the club this week - yesterday (Monday) land transfers to allow the new pitch proceed were approved at a meeting of Mayo County Council.

Westport GAA have submitted a planning application to the council for the construction of a Croke Park size football pitch with four sets of changing rooms, 250-seater stand, floodlights, and a clubhouse to be located on the Golf Course Road.

It is hoped to commence work on the project in June.

The Kenny family have had a long and loyal association with the club and its development since the '20s.

Jack was chairman for several years and in 1948 was elected chairman of the Mayo GAA County Board. His brothers Cha, Joe and Frank were also renowned and respected Westport GAA Club officers.

In addition to his administration roles, Jack was also a very talented footballer and a key member of the Attyreech football team that won the County Junior Championship in 1924. This led to his selection for the Mayo junior squad in 1925.

He was a star of the county junior team that beat Leitrim in the Connaught final of 1927.

On that same day, at the same venue, Jack played for the Mayo senior team that overcame Leitrim in the final of the Connaught Senior League.

Jack’s performances at right corner-back won him a permanent place on the Mayo senior team, becoming the first ever Westport clubman to play senior football for Mayo.

Jack’s daughter Ann (Mrs. Ann Hope, Newport Road) said they were very proud of his on-field Mayo achievements: “He achieved provincial success in both the league and championship campaigns from 1927 until 1931.

“An injury sustained on the famous New York trip in 1932 ended his inter-county career. Despite this injury, he continued to play with his native Westport until 1937, when he then retired from football.”

In 1958, Jack Kenny was one of the leading negotiators that secured land on the Newport Road to develop St. Patrick’s Park, the current home of Westport GAA. It is ironic that his family would be instrumental in this the latest phase in the development and growth of Westport GAA Club.

His involvement in the club and his passion for the game continued for many decades and he is still fondly remembered by his family and many friends in the GAA community in Westport.

Danny McLaughlin, the Westport GAA project lead, was hugely appreciative of the very kind donation by the Kenny family for the new development. “These monies will generate significant momentum for this much needed Westport GAA project in these very difficult times. A marvellous gesture by the family in remembrance of their father Jack Kenny, the first Westport man to play senior football for his county and also an industrious GAA man who worked tirelessly for the club and county over a number of decades.”

Westport GAA Club chairman Charlie Lambert, on hearing the news about the Kenny family’s donation, was 'absolutely thrilled' and hugely appreciative of such a generous offer, particularly from a Westport family that has had such a strong connection with the club, both on and off the field.

He said: “The donation will play a significant part in the construction of the new pitch development, which coincidentally is just a stone’s throw from the Bog Gate - the location of the family home of one Mr. Jack Kenny.”

Paddy Muldoon, club president, welcomed the development and the generosity of the Kenny family towards this major project. “Our club owes a deep debt of gratitude to the Kenny family, because in the very early years, we had many different titles - Westport McHales, Westport Croagh Patricks, Aughagower Derry, Attyreech and Murrisk Sunbursts. However, when the eight brothers of the Jack Kenny family got involved, they managed to consolidate them all to form one club, St. Patrick’s GAA Club, Westport.

“The brothers were Paddy, Charlie, Bert, Frank, Jack, Joe, Marty and Harry; the latter two went to America in the twenties.”

Mr. Muldoon added: “The Kenny family have left a legacy as real patriots of their time in Westport GAA and to quote Padraic Pearse, ‘Life springs from death, and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations’ and in the case of Westport 'a living club'.”

Club membership has more than doubled in the last 10 years, with participation in hurling, camogie and ladies football growing significantly.

The construction of the new playing facilities will help alleviate pressure on the current two-pitch playing facilities.

The projected cost for this ambitious project is approximately €3 million, with a planned start date, pending approval, of June 2021.