Achadh Lú Legacy for the Future

Aim

We are Crowdfunding to finish our pitch fencing, purchase a robotic mower for our pitch, and add a sound system to our new stand.

Who are we?

Achadh Lú Uí Néill CLG has always been more than a club. Since 1970, we’ve been the beating heart of our rural border community in a parish that includes the villages of Aughnacloy and Caledon — bringing together people from all backgrounds through Gaelic games, health, and friendship. 

Our home grounds and pitch is based on the Monaghan Road, Aughnacloy. Our catchement is a significant area that covers 120 townlands and stretches northward across the B34 Ballygawley Dungannon road.

Our club is thriving - we have 20 registered and affiliated teams, as follows: Go Games (U7 to U10): 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams; Youth (U11 to U18): 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams; Adult teams: 3 male teams and 1 female team.

Over the past few years, thanks to the incredible support of our members and friends, we’ve delivered game-changing developments — a state-of-the-art gym called 'The Hut', a new 200-seater spectator stand, and a 1km illuminated concrete pad walking track used weekly by hundreds of locals.

We have successfully delivered 2 Crowdfunded projects in recent years- Our "Aghaloo GFC Getting More People Active More Often" raised £10,080 and our "Active Aghaloo" programme raised £8,600, with the help of Sport NI match funding on both occasions.  

Our main aims, objectives & remit are to provide GAA activities and broader community health & well-being, education and cultural initiatives for everyone in our rural community of all ages and backgrounds. 

We achieve this by providing facilities, programmes, and initiatives for all in and around our surrounding rural catchments. Our Club is a community-based volunteer organisation promoting Gaelic Games, Culture, Sport and Recreation and lifelong participation for those living in rural Aughnacloy and surrounding townlands across the parish of Aghaloo and Carnteel, stretching from Caledon to Favour Royal and from the Brantry to Golan.

Now, we’re ready to take the next step in our facility development plan. To keep moving forward, we’re launching this crowdfunding campaign to support a few key improvements that will make a big difference for our members and supporters.

Here are a few images of our current facilities:

Why are we crowdfunding?

First, we want to install a new sound system for our main stand — so that announcements, match commentary, and community events can be clearly heard by everyone. 

Second, we need to replace an older section of our perimeter fencing to match our newly installed fencing, improving both safety and the appearance of our grounds. 

And finally, we’re aiming to purchase a robotic mower to help maintain our main pitches efficiently and to help our volunteers who spend a lot of time maintaining the pitches throughout the year.

These upgrades will enhance our club, improve safety for players and spectators, reduce ongoing maintenance costs in the pitch, and ensure our facilities remain among the very best in rural Tyrone.

Recent upgrades to our playing, fitness and spectator facilities has seen a sizeable increase in our playing membership, gym membership and in the numbers of spectators attending our youth and adult games to support our teams. It has also led to requests to host more and more games as a neutral venue with the capacity to house supporters of competing teams in convenient and comfortable spectator accommodation. We are glad to be able to offer our facilities and to accommodate increasing numbers of requests by schools and Tyrone County Board Competitions Controls Committee to host matches.

This project will help Achadh Lú:

• Maintain high quality playing conditions for current and future generations.
• Host matches, community events, and inclusive programmes year-round.
• Support volunteer sustainability and environmental responsibility.
• Strengthen cross-community unity through shared facilities and sport.
• With your help, we’ll ensure that Aghaloo’s facilities match the pride, passion, and potential of our people.

The following images shows where the funds will go towards specifically:

Fencing that needs replaced / gaps:

Stand where sound system will be installed:

Our pitches were the robotic mower will be used:

Olympic Legacy Fund Alignment

Our project aligns with the Olympic Legacy Fund because it directly supports community sport, improves essential facilities and equipment, and strengthens long term participation across our rural border community. Our project will ensure we can provide enhanced Gaelic games, multi sport and health, wellbeing for people of all ages across more than 120 townlands from Caledon to Favour Royal. It will directly benefit 20 teams, our growing membership and also external groups because of increasing requests from schools and Tyrone CCC to host neutral fixtures. We therefore require safe, modern and well maintained facilities to deliver our remit.

The upgrades we are seeking fit the fund’s priorities. Replacing the remaining section of perimeter fencing is a facility modernisation measure that improves safety, pitch protection and our ability to host youth, adult and high demand fixtures. Installing a stand sound system enhances spectator accommodation and supports match delivery, events and community programmes for a rural population that depends on our grounds as a central hub. Purchasing a robotic mower qualifies as surface maintenance equipment and will improve the quality and sustainability of our pitch maintenance, reducing pressure on volunteers.

These improvements strengthen participation, enhance accessibility, support volunteer capacity and ensure our facilities continue to deliver a long lasting community legacy in line with the aims of the Olympic Legacy Fund.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Our fundraising target is £49,684. Sport NI through the Olympic Legacy Fund will fund 65% of this total if we can raise the initial 35%! So now is a great time to donate!

All funds raised will go towards 3 essential pieces of equipment and upgrades that will strengthen safety, improve the experience of all who use our facilities and support the long term maintenance of our pitches. 

Specific project costings are:

Additional upgraded perimeter fencing: £15,686

Sound system installation in our stand: £3,544

Robotic mower for our 2 pitches: £30,454

Total: £49,684

Community impact

Our project will strengthen the role Achadh Lú Uí Néill plays as the central community hub for the rural parish of Aghaloo, where our facilities are used every day by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. More than 250 players train and play with us across 20 teams, and our grounds support a wide mix of community use, including St. Mary’s Primary School for PE, coaching and sports days, local walking and wellbeing groups using our illuminated 1km track, and families from Catholic, Protestant, migrant and newcomer backgrounds who rely on our club as a welcoming and shared space. These upgrades will ensure our grounds remain safe, modern and accessible for all.

This project also builds on the strong community impact we have already demonstrated through two successful crowdfunded programmes. Our winter community activity project we successfully Crowdfunded for created new opportunities for isolated rural residents to stay active through walking, fitness and indoor programmes delivered in The Hut- which is our community gym facility. It encouraged new volunteer coaches, increased female participation and supported young people through structured physical activity for mental wellbeing. 

Our earlier minority ethnic outreach project which we Crowdfunded for broke new ground by connecting with migrant families, delivering FUNdamentals coaching in local schools, and encouraging minority ethnic women and young people to take part in our gym and club programmes. Both initiatives expanded participation, reduced social isolation and strengthened inclusion across our parish.

By upgrading perimeter fencing, installing a modern sound system and investing in a robotic mower, we will protect and enhance the facilities that make these programmes possible. Improved safety and communication support school use, community events and neutral fixtures. Sustainable pitch maintenance reduces pressure on volunteers and keeps our main pitch playable year round. These developments will allow us to continue delivering inclusive programmes, widen participation, and ensure our grounds remain a shared space where the entire community comes together through sport, health and friendship.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Ní neart go cur le chéile – There is no strength without unity.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made