The Old Chapel Project

THE OLD CHAPEL PROJECT

In the 1880's Bandons grounds were situated about two miles outside the town in a large field adjoining the Alcatel Site in Laragh. The Macroom Road grounds has been the club's temporary home since 1926/7. A few games were played in a field opposite the Bandon 'Co-op' gates on the Macroom Rd., and the club also played a number of seasons in the field behind Kilbrogan Graveyard.

With the rapid growth of the membership in the 1970's it became necessary to have a second pitch and, as a readymade pitch was available at Ballinadee, the club secured its use for a few seasons. In 1972 a group of members began to appraise the matter of a permanent home. A committee was set up to investigate the possibility of purchasing our own grounds but the club finances were low and as the I.R.F.U. interest subsidy on ground purchase loans was not available the idea was shelved. Then in 1974, Lord Bandon let the club know that he would be willing to sell 6.5 acres on the Clonakilty Road.

The committee of Derek Harte, Donough Coughlan, John. O'Driscoll Niall O'Driscoll, Rex Lovell and Tony Neville had the land valued by an auctioneering firm which put a valuation of El 2,000 on the field. As the land was to be used as a sports ameniety for the youth of the town Lord Bandon sold it to the club for one quarter of its commercial value. A further £10,000 was spent in developing the pitches. This money was raised from members who gave £100 interest free, loans and from the 'car draw' which was run each Christmas from 1976 to 1979. As the first pitch was nearing completion Derek Harte designed a plan of a pavilion and so set in motion the pavilion project.

Centenary Committee

A centenary Committee was formed at an extraordinary general meeting on the 28th March, 1980. Derek Harte was elected chairman and the Committee comprised of Eoin Keane, Jerry Desmond, Ted Poland, Peter Lynch, Renzie O'Mahony, Tony Neville, John Doyle and John Merwick. At the A.G.M. which was held on the 14th May, 1980 Derek Harte announced the committees intention of completing the ground development project at Old Chapel and erecting a Pavilion. The Honorary Treasurer Niall O'Driscoll describes the sequence of events "At the A.G.M. which was held in Flor Crowley's Lounge in 1981 the Finance Committee of Joe McLoughlin, Barry O'Farrell and myself was formed with the main objective to raise sufficient money to enable the club to build its Pavilion in the Centenary Season in 1982. This Committee met weekly throughout the summer and in September launched its first project a 500 club draw which raised £25,000 and which gave out £12,000 in very attractive prizes. With this £12,000 in the bank it was decided to raise a further £20,000 by offering 10 year club membership for El 50.

These targets seem outlandish initially. However through excellent support and assistance from club members and players both targets were reached. With £30,000 in the bank in the building fund we went to our bankers who offered to finance the shortfall in the pavilion; this £55,000 loan being repayable over the next 7 years. The finance committee has decided to continue the 500 club draw while the pavilion is being paid for and plans are well in hand for the next draw which commences next month and which will have European holidays and cash prizes each month."

On 2nd March 1982 Eoin Keane was awarded the contract to erect the Pavilion which was designed by Dan Buckley, engineer. The western pitch at Old Chapel has been in use for three seasons but the decision to sow the grass seed on the eastern pitch was deferred two years ago when it was discovered that the water soakage was being hampered by a clay pan which had formed below the subsoil. To combat this problem an extensive drainage system was installed at a cost of £5,000 and in mid Autumn the grass seed was sown. The dream has finally become a reality.

Adieu

The unexpected closure of the Munster Arins Hotel in 1979 which had been the club's base since the early sixties left the club without showering and changing facilities. The Devonshire Arms Hotel was the Rugby Club base in the 1950's. When Flor Crowley offered the club the use of the rooms at the rear of his premises at 77 South Main Street the club gratefully accepted and it has since proved to be a most satisfactory and amenable arrangement.

This history would not be complete without mention of our home for the past 56 years - Macroom Road. It conjures images that will never be forgotten by all who have attended a cup match there: - John Doc anxiously pacing the touch line, Ted Lucitt, trousers tucked in socks, poised with the magic bottle, Fergusons blare, Kenos charge, Billy's boot, Tombo's tackling, Peters hand-off, Skibbereens downfall, Prenders barge, Molonies dummy, Christians unbelief, the piddling rain, Neville's sunvisor, Donoughs half-time hat, Farrells bridge table, Wilmots speed, Toms faint, Constitution beaten, Christians glee, Edwards deers talker, the rickety gate, Flors forum, Reggies break, the rep match, the final whistle .......

Successful Span The first trophy won by Bandon Rugby Club was the 1886 Munster Senior Challenge Cup. As the club now commences its second century of competitive rugby it is fitting to conclude the history of the last 100 years by recording the Bandon team that won the last trophy of the century past. This was the Under 12 team which won the South Munster plate, the West Cork Cup and the Highfield Festival Plate. Bandon: R. O'Sullivan, L. Hayes, M. Lyons, L. Waugh, C. O'Mahony, B. Brady (Capt), M. Ronan, 1. O'Donovan, K. Mullen, J. Coughlan, D. Curtin, R. Merrick, R. Sheehy, N. Coughlan, N. Coakley, J. Kelly, P. Brennan.

 

"AUXILIO DEI PARVA CRESCUNT"