St Patricks Dromintee New Community Sports Program

Aim

We want to deliver a new Community Yoga Programme alongside a new Strength and Conditioning programme for men in our rural border community

Who are we?

Our club is located in the heart of rural South Armagh, near the border with County Louth, and has been a central part of the community since its founding in 1887. With over 700 members, ranging from children as young as six to senior citizens, we provide a vibrant environment for all ages. While our daily activities primarily revolve around GAA sports, our impact extends far beyond the pitch. 

In early part of 2025 we Crowdfunded £10,000 for our very successful new opportunities for girls and young people in sport. It's because of this success and the community support that we want to crowdfund again for a new programme thats never been done in our rural community before.

We actively support a wide range of community initiatives, including programmes with two local primary schools, cross-border collaborations, cross-community engagement, joint ventures with the Dromintee Jonesborough Community Centre, and partnerships with local disability groups.

Our club is governed by an Executive Committee, which is elected annually at our AGM. The Committee follows a structured organisational framework that aligns with our Club’s constitution, ensuring the smooth and effective management of club affairs. We maintain strong governance practices, with subcommittees focused on specific areas of club activity. These subcommittees meet bi-weekly and report directly to the Executive Committee, enabling coordinated decision-making and project management that supports the diverse needs of our members and the wider community.

Why are we crowdfunding?

In early part of 2025 we Crowdfunded £10,000 for our very successful new opportunities for girls and young people in sport. It's because of this success and the community support that we want to crowdfund again for a new programme thats never been done in our rural community before.

We are crowdfunding to launch a new health, fitness and wellbeing programme at St Patrick’s Dromintee, creating additional opportunities for men and teenage boys across our rural border community to become more active.

The project will introduce a new 12 week Community Yoga Programme for men and teenagers (2 separate classes each week 1 hour per session) alongside dedicated Strength and Conditioning programmes for men and teenage boys- from Minor through to senior and an older persons specific S&C programme). 

These activities are new and additional to our regular club provision and have been developed in response to demand from our members and the wider rural community here in Dromintee.

Our new 12-week Community Yoga Programme will provide separate weekly classes for men and women, with each class lasting one hour. The programme will create an accessible and welcoming introduction to physical activity for people of different ages, abilities and fitness levels, including those who may not currently participate in competitive sport or feel comfortable attending a traditional gym. Sessions will improve mobility, flexibility, balance, core strength and mental wellbeing while helping participants build confidence and develop positive, long-term activity habits.

Alongside this, we will deliver dedicated Strength and Conditioning programmes for male players from Minor through to Senior level, as well as a programme specifically designed for older men. Qualified coaches will support participants to improve strength, movement, fitness and physical resilience through safe and age-appropriate training. The older persons programme will provide a structured and supportive opportunity for people aged 65 and over to remain active, improve functional strength and reduce social isolation.

These activities are new and additional to our routine club provision and will help “level the playing field” by removing barriers to participation for rural residents here in Dromintee from a socially deprived area, older people and young people in particular and those living in our rural border community. The project directly supports the programme’s focus on making sport and physical activity more inclusive and accessible, particularly for underrepresented groups.

To deliver the project effectively, funding will support qualified yoga instructors, specialist Strength and Conditioning coaches and project-specific equipment. These are essential costs required to deliver new coaching and participation opportunities within our community.

Access to organised health, fitness and wellbeing activities is very much limited in rural areas like ours. By delivering these programmes locally, free and in a supportive environment at our Club (open to all within the community), we will increase participation in sport and physical activity, improve physical and mental wellbeing, reduce isolation and connect more people through sport here in our rural community. 

Creating Opportunities

How we’ll spend the money raised

We aim to raise £7,692. All money raised will support the delivery of our new 12-week Community Yoga and Strength and Conditioning Programme.

Community Yoga Instructor Fees: £1,200: Two separate one-hour classes each week for adult men, woman and teenage boys over 12 weeks: 24 sessions at £50 per session = £1,200

Strength and Conditioning Coaching: £3,600: 3 one-hour sessions per week over 12 weeks, 36 sessions at £100 per session = £3,600. Specialist Strength and Conditioning sessions for:

• Teenage boys and Minor players
• Adult male players from Minor through to Senior level
• Older men aged 65 and over

Project-Specific Equipment: £2,892

Funding will purchase equipment required to deliver the new programmes safely and effectively, including:

• 30 Yoga mats, blocks and straps= £720 total 
• 30 Dumbbells and kettlebells= £900 total
• 30 Resistance bands= £240 total
• 30 Medicine balls= £450 total
• 30 Weight plates and training bars= £582 total

Total Project Cost: £7,692 

As a rural club, we will apply for £5,000 from Sport NI, representing 65% of the project cost, and raise the remaining through this crowdfunding.

Community impact

Our Club Dromintee GAC has a wide community impact that extends well beyond football. Our facilities supports 1000s each week, and we provide an important local hub for children, young people, adults and older people across the rural border area of Dromintee, where access to organised activities and services can be limited. We work with two local primary schools, deliver cross-community and cross-border initiatives, and collaborate with Dromintee Jonesborough Community Centre, disability organisations and other local groups.

These partnerships help improve health and wellbeing, reduce rural isolation, strengthen community relationships and provide a safe, welcoming space where people can meet, learn and participate. Our Club also creates volunteering, leadership and personal development opportunities, helping local people build confidence and contribute to community life.

Our new Yoga and Strength and Conditioning Programme will extend this wider impact by creating additional opportunities for teenage boys, adult men and older people to become active. It will help level the playing field by addressing barriers linked to age, confidence, rural location and limited local provision.

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!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 22nd September 2026 at 2:57pm