Kinsale Community School has just launched an appeal to the public to help raise funds for a new all-weather pitch and running track.

The school is currently undergoing a major building expansion. New facilities will include science, art and home economics facilities, a canteen with a focus on healthy eating, a new gymnasium with an Olympic sized basketball court and fitness suite, in addition to new classrooms. As part of the building works, the school also plans to upgrade the outdoor sports facilities.

Although the school has had national success in multiple sports, the playing field has been frequently waterlogged and unplayable over the past few years. For this reason, the school now plans to replace the field with a FIFA accredited all-weather surface pitch and surround it with a 5 lane 300 metre running track, which will ensure that students will have access to the best quality playing surfaces for both organised sport and informal games designed to encourage healthy physical activity for all of the students in the school.

The improvement to the pitch and the running track is not covered by the buildings grant provided by the Department of Education and Science. This means if the necessary funds are not raised, then part of the sports development will not go ahead. The track and pitch will cost approximately €400,000. The school has already some funds available but there will be a significant shortfall. The Parents Association has been asked to help raise this money, which is needed as soon as possible.

The school has committed to making the facilities available to the local primary schools and sports clubs, so this is a true community endeavour. This is a rare, probably once-off, opportunity at the end of 2016 to do something that will significantly benefit the community of Kinsale.

A Sponsor a Metre Scheme has been set up whereby all local businesses and interested individuals in the area are being asked to consider supporting this initiative by sponsoring a square metre or more of the all-weather pitch for €50 per metre, or sponsoring a metre or more of the running track for €250 per metre.

Any donation would be gratefully received. Kinsale Community School is registered as a charity and will issue receipts if required for tax purposes. All business donors will be acknowledged in a plaque in the school, in the school newsletter and in the local press.

To sponsor this initiative, cheques can be made payable to: Kinsale Community School Fundraising Account and sent directly to the school. Alternatively, funds can be lodged directly to a designated fundraising account: IBAN IE41BOFI90081821352080.

The fundraising committee can be contacted on [email protected] with any questions. If you are on social media, you can follow the progress on Twitter: @KCSPA_Fundraise and on Facebook: @KCSParentsAssociation