50th Anniversary Opening of Charlie Hurley Park - 2021-05-15

On Sunday 16th May 2021, Bandon GAA club celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the official opening of Pairc Cathal Ui Muirthle (Charlie Hurley Park). The grounds were dedicated to the memory of Brigadier Charlie Hurley who was killed in 1921. In 1953 the Bandon GAA Club Executive committee, under the chairmanship of RJ Downing, had the foresight to purchase 13 acres of land in the heart of Bandon town and the local community. The development of the main pitch for its first match in 1957 and the purchase of additional adjoining land in 1969 led to the official opening of the our grounds in May 1971. The Bandon GAA grounds committee pictured below were ambitious in their vision in the development of facilities for club members. 

























In December 1978, Bandon GAA club opened our Club Pavilion which offered a fantastic indoor sports facility and dance/bingo hall for our members and the local community. With the growth of members, a two floor extension was added in 1989 that provided additional dressing rooms, meeting rooms and a gym facility. The growth of the club required an extra grass pitch alongside our main pitch, so in 2009 the new sand based top pitch and ball alley both with floodlights provided our members with an all-weather training facility. In 2019, the club added an AstroTurf pitch for year round hurling and football training. Today Bandon GAA club has over 600 members, along with the expanding Ladies Football and Camogie clubs, with both juvenille and adults teams. Since the original purchase of land in 1953, the development of our excellent facilities have benefited all members with great success on the field of play. Thanks and appreciation goes to past and present Bandon GAA Club Members who planned, fundraised, developed, maintained and managed Pairc Cathal Ui Muirthle for the benefit of club members, supporters and the local community.


Today we remember you all and say thank you.


Ian Doyle
Chairperson 
Bandon GAA Club