hallopening

Opening of Hurling Hall and Complex.

President of the G.A.A. Mr. Sean Kelly officially opened the new Blackrock complex on Sunday 5th March, in the presence of the Lord Mayor Cllr. Deirdre Clune and Minister for Enterprise Michael Martin TD. The complex was blessed by Bishop John Buckley and local clergy, in an opening ceremony which was attended by a wide range of political, sports, educational and community representatives as well as a huge crowd of local people from the area.

It was a real red letter day for the Blackrock Hurling Club as a very large crowd afterwards thronged Church Road in beautiful sunshine to see the Cork and Kilkenny senior hurlers play a highly competitive challenge match. On the day the honours went to Kilkenny. Our thanks go to the panel members of the Cork and Kilkenny teams who supplied autographs and encouragement for the young Rockies and to Brian Cody and John Allen and their backroom teams for their wonderful cooperation during the day.

Our thanks also to Michael Walsh and the Dicksboro under 14 team for coming to play the Rockies Feile team in a game prior to the senior match. The young lads from the Rocky under 10s and 11 panels provided the guards of honour and put on indoor hurling exhibitions.

Sunday represented the culmination of 5 years of planning to give the young people of the local community modern sports facilities to be proud of. Over two million euro has been invested in the project that will secure the future of the Blackrock club. The new facilities realise the dreams and wishes of the officers, players and members of one of the oldest hurling clubs in Ireland and gives the Rockies a home to be proud of.

A massive catering operation was put in place throughout the club to cope with the huge crowds as hundreds of club members worked flat out to provide a wonderful day for all who visited Church Road.

The Blackrock Hurling club had lost two stalwarts s during the week with the passing of Patsy Lyons a former Chairperson of the club and member of the famous 1956 team and Larry O'Driscoll a long time member of the senior hurling committee who helped maintain the beautiful Church Road grounds. In fact he had already prepared the grounds just prior to his untimely passing. It never looked better!

Suaimhneas siorai don bheirt acu go deo!

Hurling Hall and Pavilion