Brookville House will be leased by Broadford Development Association Ltd CLG for the purpose of transforming the building into a modern community facility. This group have successfully overseen the refurbishment of the Community Hall including recent works on the Annex. Broadford Development Association are also the umbrella group that oversee other subcommittees like Broadford Playground and Broadford Tidy Towns.
 
The refurbishment of Brookville House will be a complicated project due to its protected structure status and the derelict condition of the building. Step one will be a public consultation engagement with the entire parish. All suggestions/ideas on what the wider community would like to see happen with the property will be gratefully received. Once this information is collated, funding will be sought to have an Architectural Conservation Feasibility Study prepared which will take into account the Communities wishes and the historic built environment of this prominent street side village center building. The resultant report will provide a roadmap for the rest of the project. Various funding streams will need to be accessed to fund a project of this scale. We see the project taking place in stages as there is no one fund that could cover the entire cost. Unfortunately, this is going to be a project that will take time but we are confident that we’ll turn another top class facility over to the community on its conclusion.

Please click on the link below to access the Brookville House survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAKs0uCbKbtnRqPoiHZ3FyRxnvMHuUtyLf9JuTvYRkB3b5Ag/viewform?usp=sf_link

We were thrilled by the incredible turnout at Sunday evening’s community meeting in the hall, and equally moved by the support and positive feedback for the Brookville House site vision to create an all-weather sports facility for the community and the future plans for the house itself.

Thanks go to everyone who shared insights into the various aspects of the project. If you couldn’t attend, you can review the presentation slides below. For any questions, please feel free to reach out to representatives from the involved community groups.

Additional details about the Voluntary Donation Scheme are also available in the leaflet below.

​What is it?
Once completed, the Broadford Community Sports Complex will be a state of the art Astro – Turf Pitch with LED lighting on the site of Brookville House. This project will include an extensive Car Park development for up to thirty vehicles with safe pedestrian facilities for easy access for all in our community. 

​Background
Broadford Hurling Club purchased Brookville House back in 2022. This was only possible due to the generosity of nine members that lent a significant sum of money to the club to enable the purchase of the property. The club immediately set out to clean up the grounds and the house. This work really improved the property and the aesthetics of our village.
Focus then turned to the development of the property and plans were made for an artificial surface playing pitch with LED lighting and car parking facilities. While waiting for news on the planning permission, an application was submitted for the Sports Capital Programme and the CLÁR funding programme. After a significant spend on the purchase and improvements works on the property as well as planning fees, we now have a central site with planning permission for an astro turf pitch with part funding secured for the project.
To date, a total of €130,000 on Brookville House. These costs relate to its purchase of €100,000, safety and remedial works of €15,000, planning related costs of €10,000 and finally stamp duty. This has been funded by club funds and generous member loans.

​Who’s involved?
Members of Broadford Hurling Club, Broadford Camogie Club, Broadford Minor Club, Broadford & Kilbane National School as well as our Junior Activity Club and Community Games will be supporting the completion of this project. A significant part of supporting the completion of the Broadford Community Sports Complex will be collecting funds.

How will it benefit our community?
Firstly, this project has the obvious benefit of providing sporting and active opportunities to all members of the Broadford, Kilbane & Kilmore community. Our clubs, National School and youth will gain a state of the art and centrally located sport facility.
The construction of car park facilities with extensive pedestrian measures in the centre of our village will provide much needed and safe parking facilities to ease the traffic and make our village safer during school drop off and collection times as well as ease the traffic around the GAA pitch during training and matches.
The pedestrian measures will mean easy and safe access for all from our National school and GAA Grounds.
Finally, the completion of the sports complex and the refurbishment of Brookville House will greatly enhance the aesthetics of our village and further improve the recreational facilities at our community’s disposal.

​Who will use it?
The Broadford Community Sports Complex will be available to all members of our community. Firstly, all members of our sporting clubs, young and old will benefit from the development. The children in Broadford and Kilbane National School as well as those in Play and Learn Creche will have free and regular access to this facility. The Junior activity club and the Community Games groups will also benefit from access to the Astro Turf Pitch. This facility will also be available for locals to play a range of 5 a side games in. 

What will it cost?
We have outlined the expected costs for this project, the total costs will reach an estimated €330,000. Of this we hope to achieve a total of €220,000 in supports and grants, some of this, such as the sports capital grant has already been committed.
Proposed Cost:
Astro Turf, fence and lighting:                           €260,000
Car Park and Pedestrian Measures:                  €50,000
Council Contribution Fee:                                   €20,000
Landscaping costs:                                                €10,000
Total:                                                                        €350,000
Grant aid and supports
Sports Capital Grant:                                             €153,648
Clár Grant (Car Park/ Pedestrian)                      €50,000
Tomar Trust:                                                          €10,000
GMA Funding (Towards Council fee)                €5000
Total:                                                                        €228,648
 
Initial shortfall in Funding:                                €121,352
​

​Funding Shortfall
While much of this shortfall in funding will be funded by the Hurling Club through loans and savings, there is only so much that they can do. It is expected that up to €80,000 will need to be raised to achieve the completion of this development. This will be required before the commencement of the project as it is a requirement of the Sports Capital programme that the organisation show their capacity to fund a certain percentage of the project prior to commencement. 

GMA Funding
As a community, we were very disappointed to be charged a Council contribution fee of €20,000 as a condition of our planning permission. We feel that considering the many benefits of this project for the community, the voluntary status of the clubs involved, as well as the provision of much needed car parking facilities in the community, this fee is considerably high. Cllr Joe Cooney has recently committed €5000 of GMA funding towards the payment of this fee, and we would hope that the other councillors will also generously provide funding towards the payment of this contribution.  

What will Happen the rest of Brookville House?
The refurbishment of Brookville House will be a complicated project due to its protected structure status and the derelict condition of the building. Step one will be a public consultation engagement with the entire parish. All suggestions/ideas on what the wider community would like to see happen with the property will be gratefully received. Once this information is collated, funding will be sought to have an Architectural Conservation Feasibility Study prepared which will take into account the Communities wishes and the historic built environment of this prominent street side village centre building. The resultant report will provide a roadmap for the rest of the project. Various funding streams will need to be accessed to fund a project of this scale. We see the project taking place in stages as there is no one fund that could cover the entire cost. Unfortunately, this is going to be a project that will take time, but we are confident that we’ll turn another top class facility over to the community on its conclusion.

​What happens next?
The community of Broadford, Kilbane and Kilmore have always proven incredibly supportive. We are looking forward to working closely with the community to achieve the completion of this incredibly important development.

Can you help Kevin and his family to meet his critical care costs?

Joined by members of the East Clare Hurling “family” and other local representatives the Broadford, Kilmore and Kilbane community met on Monday the 23rd to launch it’s appeal to help meet the critical care costs for Broadford Hurling Club’s Kevin Ryan.

The meeting was hosted by Kieran Corcoran, who was joined by club chair Johno O’Brien and Bernie O’Brien.  Kieran and Johno both talked about the contributions Kevin has made to the club over many years and Bernie provided an update on the excellent one-to-one care Kevin has been receiving at the care facility he is living in in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, and how this is making a genuine difference to Kevin’s quality of life Co. Kevin’s Father, Brendan also provided an update on Kevin’s health journey over the last number of months and thanked everyone for their support so far.

Kevin is a hugely popular and well-liked married father of one from Kilmore, Broadford in East Clare. In recent years Kevin is known to the people of South-East Clare as a courier with Fastway. Prior to this Kevin worked in Element Six in Shannon where he made many friends. Kevin and his father, Brendan are well known in Clare GAA circles and Kevin has been involved in a range of roles with Broadford GAA over a long number of years. He has played at all levels with Broadford, was a selector with various teams as well as fulfilling the role of club secretary up until his health difficulties took hold.

Since the Autumn of 2023, when he experienced kidney failure as well as numerous other health complications, Kevin has been left unable to work and has been left with significant care needs. He spent over 6 months in the University Hospital Limerick but in May 2024, Kevin secured a place in Abbot Close Care Centre in Askeaton where he is now receiving the 24-hour a day one to one care that is so critical for him. The level of care Kevin is receiving in Askeaton is crucial to maintain his quality of life but this level of care is beyond what can be provided by the HSE.

Kevin’s illness has placed immense emotional and financial strain on the family. We are reaching out to the wider community to help meet some of the costs of Kevin's specialised care needs.

Your generosity will not only provide Kevin with the care he desperately needs but will also offer much-needed support to Kevin’s wife Caroline and his son Kyle during this challenging time. Every euro donated will go directly towards meeting Kevin’s care costs and ensure that he can have some quality of life. The donations will be managed by a fundraising committee and updates will be given over time.

We understand times are tough for many, but any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference to Kevin and his family. If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your kindness and compassion are greatly appreciated.

Please use the link below to donate:
​
Donate to Help with Kevin's care costs, organised by Friends of Kevin Ryan ​

​A poker Classic for Broadford Hurling Club was held in the parish hall on Saturday night. It was a great event that was enjoyed by all. Well done to the winners on the night. 
 
 We would like to thank the hall committee for the use of our parish hall, a great facility. 
 
This would not have been possible without Tom and Linda Marsh and family, they outdid themselves this year and left no stone unturned with a record attendance and record prizes in what was a very well organised event! Well done Tom!
 
Pictured are the classic winners Michael Vaughan and Aisling Delaney with organiser Tom Marsh ♠️♥️♦️♣️

After a tough week, Broadford Senior and Intermediate teams got off to a strong start over the weekend. Both matches observed a minutes silence before commencing with both Broadford teams wearing black armbands in memory of the late Seanie Kelleher, Violet Hill. 

Broadford played Tubber away in the first round of the Clare Cup division 1b. Broadford won by three points on a scoreline of 3-12 to 1-15.  The Broadford team was as follows:
Cian O'Brien, Damien Kiniry, Cathal Chaplin, Jack O'Brien, Paurig Taylor, Paddy Donnellan, Davy Boland, Mark Moloney, Oisin Kavanagh, Diarmuid O'Brien, Darren Chaplin, Craig Chaplin, Diarmuid Whelan, Donal Whelan and Stiofán McMahon. Subs used were Conor O'Donnell and Gearoid Vaughan.

Broadford faced Clarecastle in the first round of the Intermediate league, it was played on Clarecastle's new Astro-turf pitch. It was a strong start for Broadford with a two point win, 2-13 to 0-15. The Broadford team was JC McMahon, Cathal O'Sullivan, Jack O'Brien, TJ Dillon, Mark Gunning, Conor O'Donnell, Sam Cooper, Gearoid Vaughan, Diarmuid Whelan, Eoin O'Brien, Jack Ward Murphy, Paul Moloney, Padraig Hickey, Denis Fahy and Jack Dillon. 
Subs used were Jack Kelleher, James Dillon, Noah Corbett and Paul O'Connell. 

​Well done to both teams on a good start to the league. 

The Niall and Jamie O’Brien memorial tournament, held on the 11th June 2022, lived up to expectation as an excellent tournament. It was a fantastic day full of memories and spectacular hurling for all in attendance. The day resembled a festival of hurling consisting of fifteen competitive matches played throughout the day. The prizes on offer were the Niall O’Brien tournament cup and the Jamie O’Brien player of the tournament trophy. Broadford GAA and our great community left no stone unturned in preparation for what was eagerly awaited by many as a day full of remembrance for Niall and Jamie. An 11 aside tournament was chosen as a fitting way to celebrate both Niall and Jamie’s contribution to Broadford Hurling Club. Their family, friends and clubmates were delighted with the opportunity to come together to remember them both.

​Schedule of Matches
​

​Broadford GAA Hurling Club is delighted to announce the reopening of our newly refurbished Handball Alley on Saturday 14th May.

Great work has been completed by club members in getting this facility fit for use again; development of a new venue booking system, new signage was erected, a new meter, locks and lights installed, bathroom refit and deep clean of the entire  alley. A massive thank you to all who helped in getting this project completed. It is hoped that Club members both young and old can now start to enjoy this great facility that is readily available for all to use.

A new Committee has been formed who have committed to running and managing the facility. If you would like to become a member of Broadford GAA and use this facility please log on to www.foireann.ie select Ath Leathan GAA and register.

Members can get access to the alley by following the steps on the attached leaflet.

It is important that member users adhere to the following:

• Book in advance through the online booking system
• Respect pre-booked timeslots
• Timber hurleys and sliotars are not allowed in the Alley. The Hurling Club intend to purchase some plastic hurleys and soft balls which will be free to use by members in the Alley.

We would ask all members to respect the alley rules so that we can protect and maintain this fantastic facility.