Club Notes 06.09.26
St Declan’s GAA Club Notes
U13 Camogie – Team 1
Our U13 Team 1 girls delivered a terrific performance on Wednesday evening, coming away with a hard-earned victory over a strong Gaultier side in Ardmore.
The game was tightly contested from the throw-in, with both teams battling hard for every ball. Ardmore managed to edge ahead by a single point at half-time following a determined opening spell.
Facing into the breeze in the second half, the girls showed great grit and composure. Two well-taken goals proved crucial, while an excellent defensive effort in the closing stages ensured that we held on for a deserved one-point victory.
A brilliant team performance from start to finish and a great reward for the girls’ hard work.
U13 Camogie – Team 2
Our U13 Team 2 came up against a very strong Newtown/Ballydurn side on Thursday evening.
The girls battled hard throughout and never gave up, continuing to work right until the final whistle. Well done to all the girls for their effort and commitment.
They are back in action on Sunday, 13th, when they welcome Ring to Ardmore.
Intermediate Football
Our Intermediate Footballers got their Championship campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought victory over Colligan.
In a competitive game, the lads showed great determination and composure to come away with a 1-12 to 0-10 victory.
A fantastic start to the Championship against the current Western Champions.
The next outing is against Shamrocks on Sunday at 3pm in Lismore. Best of luck to the players and management, and all support would be greatly appreciated.
U12 Hurling – County Champions!
What a morning it was for our U12 hurlers on Saturday as they travelled to Dungarvan GAA Club to take on St Oliver’s in the Division 3 County Final.
It was a beautiful morning for a game and there was a huge Ardmore support in the stand and around the pitch, creating a fantastic atmosphere for the young players.
Ardmore got off to a flying start playing with a slight breeze, firing over four points before St Oliver’s got on the scoreboard. Our lads were on top for much of the opening half, leaving absolutely everything on the pitch and showing a tremendous work rate throughout the team.
At half-time, Ardmore led 0-07 to 0-03.
A couple of changes were made at half-time and the team maintained their incredible work rate as the second half progressed. Both teams exchanged points early in the half before St Oliver’s got in for a goal with ten minutes remaining, leaving just the minimum between the sides.
Our lads dug deep once again and some fantastic work in the forwards created a goal chance which was brilliantly finished to the net.
With the game entering its closing stages, our backs were under huge pressure but produced a superb defensive display, coming out with ball after ball to ensure St Oliver’s could not find a way back into the game.
The final whistle brought scenes of celebration as Ardmore were crowned County Champions, winning on a scoreline of:
Ardmore 1-08
St Oliver’s 1-04
We are incredibly proud of this group of players, who have produced some excellent performances throughout the year, losing just once in 14 games.
This victory completes a fantastic U12 County Double, with the group having already secured the Football County title earlier in the season. A tremendous achievement for the players, coaches and everyone involved.
The celebrations continued on Saturday evening with a very noisy tour of the village before returning to the GAA Club, where the victorious team were treated to hotdogs and pizza.
A huge thank you to The Sideline for their generous hospitality and for helping make the celebrations so special for the players.
We will have a medal presentation for our U12 players in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for details.
Congratulations again to our County Champions!
Ardmore Abú!
U14 Football
Our U14 footballers are back in action on Thursday evening when they take on St Oliver’s in the U14 Football County Semi-Final.
The game takes place in Ardmore at 6pm and we would love to see a big crowd out to support the boys as they look to book their place in the County Final.
Best of luck to all the players and management.
Club Lotto
Lotto Results – 1st September
The Club Lotto Jackpot continues to grow and is now €10,100!
Congratulations to all our recent winners and a huge thank you to everyone who continues to support the St Declan’s GAA Club Lotto each week.
Our next draw takes place on Tuesday, 8th September at 6.30pm in the Clubhouse.
Tickets are available from our usual outlets or online.
Every ticket purchased helps support the continued development of St Declan’s GAA Club, our teams and facilities.
Thanks for supporting St Declan’s GAA.
Ardmore – Greenest Village Shortlisted
We were delighted to welcome Eanna Ní Lamhna to the club on Monday as part of Ardmore’s entry in the Greenest Village competition, with Ardmore shortlisted as one of the greenest villages in Ireland.
It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the huge amount of work taking place throughout our community. What makes Ardmore’s entry particularly special is that it is not based around one project, but on the combined efforts of St Declan’s GAA Club, Ardmore Tidy Towns, Ardmore and Grange National Schools, Halla Deuglán, local businesses, volunteers and residents, all working towards a greener village.
Renewable energy is a major part of that work, with solar PV installed at the GAA Club, both national schools and Ardmore Community Hall, alongside EV charging infrastructure. Ardmore is also recognised as a Sustainable Energy Community, working with SEAI to improve energy efficiency and encourage more households to embrace renewable energy.
Our biodiversity work is equally important, with Ardmore recognised as a Pollinator Friendly Village, extensive wildflower planting, bee posts, conservation grazing with goats along sections of the Cliff Walk and community-led ecological restoration projects.
Here in St Declan’s GAA Club, sustainability has become an important part of our ongoing development, with solar PV, biodiversity planting, our pollinator-friendly remembrance garden, bike parking, recycling initiatives and environmentally conscious grounds management all contributing to the wider community effort.
We are hopeful of a positive result, but regardless of the outcome, it is something the entire community can be extremely proud of. Ardmore has shown what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision.
A huge thank you to everyone who continues to play their part in making Ardmore a greener place to live, work and visit.
🚲 Active Travel & Safer Routes in Ardmore
One of the key areas highlighted during Eanna Ní Lamhna’s visit was the importance of active travel for both our schools and St Declan’s GAA Club.
There was a strong focus on encouraging more children and adults to walk or cycle to school, training and matches, with the potential for village-wide cycle lanes also identified as an important future development.
The reintroduction of Walking Wednesday at the school is another positive step and, with the new footpath connecting the village to the GAA Club due to commence this month, we hope this will make a significant difference.
A dedicated and safer route to the club will give children and adults a much better opportunity to walk or cycle to training, matches and activities, reducing car journeys while also making the journey safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Good News for Ardmore Playground
There was also some welcome news in the recent Council notes, with planned upgrades to Ardmore Village Playground.
The playground has been badly in need of a facelift for some time, so it is great to see plans progressing to improve this important community facility.
A modern, safe and attractive playground will be a fantastic addition to the village and another positive step in improving facilities for local families and visitors to Ardmore.
Our Greenest Village Entry
As requested, we will also publish the full application submitted on behalf of Ardmore, “Ardmore, Co. Waterford – A Community Growing Greener Together,” so everyone can see the breadth of work taking place across our village.
Ardmore, Co. Waterford – A Community Growing Greener Together
Nestled on the stunning Waterford coastline, Ardmore is a thriving coastal village where sustainability, biodiversity and climate action have become central to community life. What makes Ardmore unique is not one flagship project, but the way our entire community has worked together to protect our natural environment, reduce carbon emissions, restore habitats and inspire future generations.
This journey has been driven by collaboration between St Declan's GAA Club, Ardmore Tidy Towns, Ardmore National School, Grange National School, Ardmore Community Hall, local businesses, volunteers and residents, all sharing a common vision of creating a greener and more sustainable future.
A major focus has been the transition to renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have been installed at St Declan's GAA Club, Ardmore National School, Grange National School and Ardmore Community Hall, reducing energy costs and carbon emissions while strengthening the sustainability of these important community facilities. The installation of EV charging infrastructure further supports cleaner transport and encourages the adoption of low-carbon technologies throughout the village.
Ardmore has also established itself as a Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), working in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Through SEAI support, the community recently completed a comprehensive energy audit to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency across homes and community buildings. The findings will be presented at a community information evening, encouraging residents to take advantage of available grants and supports while adding to the ever-growing number of households in Ardmore that are embracing renewable energy and improving the energy performance of their homes.
Biodiversity is at the heart of Ardmore's environmental work. The village is proud to be recognised as a Pollinator Friendly Village, with extensive wildflower planting, pollinator-friendly landscaping and the installation of bee posts throughout the community. These initiatives provide essential habitats for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects while creating vibrant public spaces that benefit both wildlife and people.
Protecting our natural landscape is equally important. Along sections of the Ardmore Cliff Walk, conservation grazing using goats has been introduced as a sustainable method of managing vegetation. The goats naturally control invasive scrub and excessive growth, helping to restore species-rich grasslands, improve habitats for native plants and wildlife and reduce the need for mechanical cutting or chemical treatments. This initiative protects one of Waterford's most iconic coastal landscapes while showcasing practical, nature-based environmental management.
The community has also undertaken innovative ecological restoration projects. Last year, volunteers harvested locally sourced wild grass seed from established native grasslands to restore a local graveyard that had suffered from years of neglect and excessive chemical use. By reintroducing native grasses and wild plants, the project will naturally stabilise and knit the soil back together, improve biodiversity and create healthier habitats for insects, birds and other wildlife. Using locally harvested seed also helps preserve Ardmore's unique natural flora and demonstrates how traditional ecological practices can be used to restore damaged landscapes.
Environmental education plays a vital role in Ardmore's sustainability journey. Pupils from both Ardmore National School and Grange National School actively participate in biodiversity projects, sustainability initiatives and outdoor learning experiences, developing an understanding of environmental stewardship from an early age. These programmes help ensure that today's young people become tomorrow's environmental champions.
Across the village, volunteers regularly organise community clean-ups, litter reduction campaigns, tree planting, habitat enhancement projects and conservation initiatives. The redevelopment and enhancement of the Sruthán area has created an attractive natural space for residents and visitors while encouraging biodiversity, recreation and a greater appreciation of the local environment.
St Declan's GAA Club has placed sustainability at the centre of its long-term development. Alongside its solar PV installation, the club has introduced biodiversity planting, a pollinator remembrance garden, bike parking, environmentally conscious grounds management and recycling initiatives. As a Healthy Club, it continues to promote active lifestyles while investing in facilities that benefit both the community and the environment.
Our vision for the future continues to grow. Plans to further improve sustainable walking routes and strengthen connections with Ardmore's unique coastal landscape will encourage active travel, support responsible tourism and help protect our natural heritage for generations to come.
What truly makes Ardmore special is its people. Every environmental achievement has been made possible through the dedication of volunteers, community organisations, schools, businesses and residents working together with a shared purpose. Sustainability is not seen as a single project but as an ongoing commitment that influences every aspect of community life.
From renewable energy and climate action to biodiversity restoration, conservation grazing, pollinator protection, environmental education and community-led habitat restoration, Ardmore demonstrates how a small rural village can make a significant contribution towards a greener Ireland. We are proud of what has been achieved, but even more excited by what lies ahead as we continue working together to create a healthier, more resilient and more sustainable community for future generations.
