Irish Village Raises €130K for New Community Sports Hub

Thomas Smyth bought just one raffle ticket last September and drove home with a brand new Toyota Hilux after his name was drawn from 7,500 entries on December 30.

But the real winner is the village of Cortoon, where a determined group of volunteers raised an incredible €130,000 to build a community sports facility that will serve families for generations. The fundraising committee had hoped for €100,000 and ended up surpassing their wildest expectations.

The Cortoon Lavally Playing Fields Community Group started selling tickets last August with a clear mission: raise enough money to buy ten acres of land across from the local church and pub. Planning permission from Galway County Council came through earlier this month for the ambitious project.

The new facility will include a full-size GAA pitch, an all-weather astro turf field, a walking track with lighting, changing rooms with a gym, a playground, spectator stands, and plenty of parking. It's designed to welcome everyone from young families to senior citizens looking for safe places to stay active.

The fundraising team went everywhere to sell tickets. They traveled to local sporting matches, farmers' markets, gas stations, agricultural shows, and even the famous Ballinasloe Fair. One memorable day was spent in Westport with Midwest Radio, where people from outside County Galway showed overwhelming generosity.

Karen Joyce, an executive committee member, said the strong online presence also helped push them past their goal. The dedication paid off when raffle host Ronan Lardner from Galway Bay FM drew the winning tickets at the Cortoon Inn.

Annette Walsh from Tuam won second prize, a robotic lawnmower, while local resident Pat Joyce took home a Centre Parcs vacation voucher as third prize.

The Ripple Effect

This project shows what happens when a community decides to invest in its own future. The new complex will give local GAA club Cortoon Shamrocks a proper home field while creating a gathering place where neighbors can meet, kids can play safely, and families can build memories together. Small villages across Ireland often struggle to fund major infrastructure projects, making this grassroots success a blueprint for other communities wondering if they can do the same.

Nine volunteers made up the core fundraising committee, proving you don't need a massive organization to create lasting change.