An Charraig Mhór Naomh Colmcille CLG Gym Equipment

Aim

We are raising funds to purchase gym equipment for our community gym in Carrickmore, helping more people get active in our rural community.

Who are we?

An Charraig Mhór Naomh Colmcille CLG, based at Pairc Colmcille, Quarry Road, Carrickmore, has been at the heart of our community since 1932. We are a registered Community Amateur Sports Club (CH12545) providing sporting, social and wellbeing opportunities for people of all ages across Carrickmore and surrounding rural areas.

Our club now supports over 940 members from u6 to seniors across 16 teams (boys and girls), with structured programmes for men, women, and young people aged 6 to senior level. Beyond GAA activity, our facilities are regularly used by the following groups for wellbeing and social initiatives: St Colmcilles PS, Dean Maguric Secondary School, Carrickmore Health Centre, Mens Shed, Ulster GAA, Starbreakers Special Olympic Club, Eire Og Hurling and Camogie Club, Mid Ulster Community Arts Trust, Patrician Hall, Carmen Runners and Spirit of Carmen community group.

Our 18-acre site is used by 1000s each week and includes a main playing field, two training pitches, a recently developed indoor training facility, walking / running track, gym, clubrooms, and spectator stands with accessible viewing. Pairc Colmcille is recognised as one of the best club facilities in Ulster and is maintained by a dedicated volunteer team committed to supporting participation, player development, and community engagement.

Beyond our club activity, Pairc Colmcille serves as a vital community hub. Local schools use it for sports days (primary and secondary school), businesses for meetings, and groups such as Carmen Runners our local running club, Spirit of Carmen community group, and Men’s Shed for regular health and wellbeing programmes. We also host major GAA fixtures, Scór events, and cultural activities that strengthen community ties.

As our membership and local population continue to grow, so too does the need for modern, inclusive, and accessible facilities. While our site serves over 1000+ people weekly, demand now exceeds capacity, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities, and those seeking general health and fitness opportunities outside of team sport.

Our vision is to keep Pairc Colmcille as a welcoming, modern, and inclusive centre that supports sport, physical activity, and wellbeing for all. Through continued investment and community backing, An Charraig Mhór Naomh Colmcille CLG will remain a focal point for health, participation, and community pride in Carrickmore for generations to come.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We’re fundraising for new gym equipment at our Club and for our community gym, including the following:

• 6 x Dumbbell and Rack Set   
• 5 x Concept Bikes   
• 5 x Concept Rowers    
• 5 x Concept Ski Ergs    
• 2 x 10 Bay Freestanding Rigs
• 5 x Self Generating Curve Treadmills

All this equipment is essential for developing player performance and promoting community health.

Our existing facilities are heavily used and cannot meet the growing demand from over 940 members and the wider Carrickmore community. Players across our 16 men’s, women’s and underage teams rely on strength and conditioning to improve performance, reduce injuries and support recovery. However, we currently lack the equipment needed to deliver safe, structured training for multiple teams and age groups.

This project directly aligns with the objectives of the Sport NI Olympic Legacy Fund. The fund aims to improve the quality of sports equipment and modernise facilities, encouraging greater participation in sport and physical activity while leaving a lasting community legacy. Our project will do exactly that by providing accessible, modern gym equipment that benefits both players and non-playing members of the community.

The new equipment will ensure players of all abilities have access to professional-grade training resources similar to those used by elite athletes, supporting the Olympic Legacy of increased participation and improved performance. It will also open our doors to older people, those with limited mobility, and community members seeking a safe environment to improve fitness and wellbeing.

Every contribution will help us reach our goal. Once we raise 35% of our target through this campaign, Sport NI will match our efforts by contributing 65%, allowing us to purchase the full range of equipment needed.

By supporting this project, you are investing in long-term community health, inclusion and sporting excellence. Together, we can create a facility that inspires participation, supports athletes, and promotes physical activity across all ages and abilities – leaving a real Olympic legacy in Carrickmore.

Our Current Gym

The following images demonstrate our current limited gym equipment, demonstrating the urgent need for our Crowdfunder:

Alignment with the Olympic Legacy Fund

Our project fully aligns with the aims of the Sport NI Olympic Legacy Fund, which focuses on improving sports equipment and modernising community sports facilities to encourage more people to engage in physical activity. The fund’s purpose is to leave a lasting community legacy inspired by the success of Ireland’s athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

By investing in new gym equipment such as cardio machines, squat racks, leg press units, cable stations, and spin bikes, we will directly enhance the quality of training resources available to our members and the wider community. These improvements will help increase participation levels, support talent development, and strengthen long-term engagement in sport.

Our gym will serve as a shared community asset that promotes inclusivity, physical wellbeing, and social connection. It will support players in developing strength and endurance while also encouraging non-players, including older adults and people with disabilities, to take part in structured physical activity. This directly reflects the fund’s goal of creating inclusive spaces that make sport and exercise more accessible.

In line with the Olympic Legacy Fund objectives, our project will deliver measurable impact through improved training capacity, greater community participation, and enhanced physical and mental health outcomes. The new equipment will ensure that our community gym remains a sustainable, high-quality facility that contributes to Sport NI’s vision of building a lasting legacy of health, achievement, and community pride inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Our fundraising target is £49,620 which will be used to equip our new community gym with modern, high-quality equipment. 

We’re fundraising for new gym equipment in Carrickmore, including the following:

• 6 x Dumbbell and Rack Set   
• 5 x Concept Bikes   
• 5 x Concept Rowers    
• 5 x Concept Ski Ergs    
• 2 x 10 Bay Freestanding Rigs
• 5 x Self Generating Curve Treadmills

This equipment will create a modern, inclusive community gym supporting fitness, health, and wellbeing for all.

It not only benefits 940+ club members (incl 16 men’s, women’s, youth teams) but also improves access to the wider community, particularly older adults, people with disabilities, and those not involved in team sport. 

As a community gym open to all, it encourages newcomers who may be unfamiliar or nervous about a gym environment to take part in exercise in a supportive local setting. Improved quality and accessibility will promote participation, wellbeing, and health across rural Carrickmore.

The poject will engage 100s of more people by providing accessible, modern community gym equipment open to all in our rural community. It will attract newcomers to a gym setting, older adults (via our mens shed), youths through our teen gym, and people with disabilities in particular (through our Starbreakers Special Olympic Club partnership), who may not take part in our team sports, offering a welcoming space to be active, improve fitness, and build confidence in the gym in rural Carrickmore.

This investment will directly improve player performance, support injury prevention, and create an accessible space for the wider community to engage in fitness and wellbeing activities.

Sport NI, through the Olympic Legacy Fund, will contribute 65% (£32,253) of our target once we raise the remaining 35% (£17,500) through this Crowdfunder campaign. Every contribution from our supporters will help unlock that funding and turn this project into reality.

Every pledge will help create a lasting Olympic legacy in Carrickmore – improving local health, supporting sporting excellence, and strengthening community wellbeing for years to come.

Community impact

Our Club is a cornerstone of life here in rural in Carrickmore, providing vital sporting, social and wellbeing opportunities for people of all ages. Our facilities are in use every day of the week, offering a focal point for connection, activity, and inclusion in a rural area where access to such resources is limited.

Our club now supports over 940 members across 16 teams, with structured programmes for men, women, and young people aged 6 to senior level. Beyond GAA activity, our facilities are regularly used by the following groups for wellbeing and social initiatives: St Colmcilles PS, Dean Maguric Secondary School, Carrickmore Health Centre, Mens Shed, Ulster GAA, Starbreakers Special Olympic Club, Eire Og Hurling and Camogie Club, Mid Ulster Community Arts Trust, Patrician Hall, Carmen Runners and Spirit of Carmen community group.

In 2023 and 2024, we have successfully delivered 2 Crowdfunded community-focused projects,  for rural sporting opportunities and new youth initiatives supported by Sport NI match funding, and the ongoing development of our new indoor pitch – a significant investment that will serve as a shared community resource for years to come.

This new gym equipment project will deepen that impact by providing accessible, high-quality fitness resources for both players and non-players. It will enable older adults, people with disabilities, and those new to exercise to participate safely in physical activity within their own community.

By improving access to sport and fitness, we will help tackle key local challenges such as rural isolation, poor mental health, and limited opportunities for social interaction. The project will strengthen community spirit, promote healthier lifestyles, and ensure our club continues to be a hub of inclusion and wellbeing in Carrickmore.

The Programmes we will deliver

The new gym equipment will enable us to deliver and host structured fitness and wellbeing programmes for both our 900+ club members and the wider rural Carrickmore community. 

In total, we will run and facilitate over 25 sessions per week, serving players, schools, and community groups across all ages and abilities.

Within the club, our 16 men’s, women’s, girls, and youth teams will take part in 20+ weekly strength and conditioning sessions and injury prevention and recovery sessions, supporting more than 500 players up to senior level. These will improve fitness, resilience, and performance.

In partnership with St Colmcille’s PS and Dean Maguirc Secondary School both schools will also use the gym for PE, fitness modules, and after-school activities, engaging over 250 pupils each term. Partnering with the secondary school we will introduce a Community Teen Gym Programme, offering supervised gym access for young people aged 13–18, two afternoons / evenings per week after school.

Through Carrickmore Health Centre and the Men’s Shed, we will deliver an 8 week Older Persons Health and Fitness Programme twice per year, linking our existing walking track with indoor gym sessions to promote cardiovascular health, strength, and social connection for up to 40 participants .

Linking with Starbreakers Special Olympic Club we will hold 2 adapted gym sessions weekly, providing inclusive training for 15+ individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Carmen Runners, with almost 100 members, will use the gym for indoor conditioning, recovery, and strength work during winter and poor weather. They use our facilities currently as their main base via our walking / jogging track.

Our Spirit of Carmen community group and Mid Ulster Community Arts Trust will collaborate on 4 targeted wellbeing programmes, fitness workshops, and community events each year promoting physical activity and inclusion within the gym.

As a designated Healthy Club, this new gym will strengthen our existing health and wellbeing initiatives and community outreach- such as mindfulness, fitness challenges, and community wellness programmes, by providing the space and equipment to expand participation and impact across Carrickmore.

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