Ambitious plans for Ratoath Rugby Club development
Ratoath RFC has ambitious development plans in place for 2021.
Officially established in 2005 Ratoath RFC affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and took the tentative steps of a new organisation with lots of ambition.
A memorable journey that has covered the last 16 years saw silverware arrive at the Curraha road base outside the expanding 'village' of Ratoath in the form of a McGee Cup in 2016 and the Dunne Cup in 2019.
"The youth section consistently punches above its weight – regularly competing for honours in the North East and Leinster Leagues, Cups and Shields every season," remarked club official Conor Kiely.
"In the early days the club was offered five acres on the Curraha Road as a temporary training ground and our facilities have served us well.
"However they were never intended to be permanent and 16 years on, they are tired, sub-standard, and no longer fit for purpose.
We have invested in the acquisition of extra land not only encompassing our initial home, but a further 11 acres to enable our growth as a club.
"We have constructed a new pitch widely complimented as being “the finest in the North East Area”, and have also invested in match-grade floodlighting enabling safe winter training as well as night-time games.
"Our 2021 objective is to complete a modern clubhouse to benefit the next generation, as well as build a second new pitch," he added.
The club has planned a major fundraiser for this year in the form of a car draw that will be key to development funding.
At the moment it is restricted by Covid-19, but once the restrictions are eased the hard-working Ratoath RFC officials will set about the task of completing the next phase of an ambitious project..
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Work during November 2020 on the second new pitch for Ratoath RFC.