By Diarmaid Doherty
UP to 3,000 campers will make the grounds of St. Eunan’s GAA club their home this weekend with O’Donnell Park once again the official campsite for the Donegal International Rally.
The fabulous facility will be transformed into a sea of tents, campervans and caravans with rally fans traveling from all over for the three-day event.
For St. Eunan’s, it’s a major money-spinner with income generated not just from the campsite, but at the club’s function room, shop and take-away facilities.
Club chairman John Haran said preparations for the weekend started months ago and he has paid tribute to the efforts of all the volunteers who will play such an important part over the three days.
“We simply couldn’t do it without them,” he said.
“The logistics involved are massive. We are employing Superior Security for the weekend and they will have a presence here at the grounds right throughout.
“But we also have our own club volunteers dealing with everything else, from looking after car parking, tidying up, cleaning the toilets and the shower facilities and anything else that has to be done.
“Darragh Boyle is leading up the clubhouse end of things and Ciaran Maguire is in charge of the shop. So we’ve all bases covered and if anyone is free to come out and give us a hand, it would be very much appreciated.”
The campers will be accommodated on the practice pitches at O’Donnell Park while the grounds must also cater for up to 700 cars.
Some of those cars will go into an overflow area being provided by the nearby Aura Leisure Centre and John thanked the Aura management for making space available this weekend.
St Eunan’s GAA club hosted their first ever rally campsite back in 2016. That first year was busy, but it has gotten bigger each year since. With the rally not taking place during Covid in 2020 and 2021, the campsite was back up and running last year.
Many of those who stayed are booked to return again this weekend, guaranteeing some welcome income for the club.
“It’s a major fundraiser for us,” John added.
“We have plans in place for a new Prunty Pitch development having purchased 13 acres of land on the Conwal side of our grounds back in 2008.
“Once we get this weekend out of the way, we will be starting work on developing that pitch and once complete, it will be another major addition to our facilities.”
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