“Transformational” new development at Kildare Town AFC 

Kildare Town AFC have turned the sod on their latest development as work has gotten underway for the installation of a new, state-of-the-art AstroTurf facility at the club’s grounds on Rathbride Road.

In constructing the new 97m x 61m pitch, the club have paired up with Kerry-based company, PST Sport, who specialise in designing and building artificial grass pitches across Ireland and the UK.

PST said the new facility “will be transformational for Kildare Town AFC, helping to reduce weather-related cancellations and providing a reliable, year-round playing surface for the club’s 34 teams. A fantastic investment in the future of the club and its players.” 

Former Fine Gael County Councillor Paddy Curran, a long-time member of Kildare Town AFC, spoke to The Kildare Nationalist about the development, heaping praise on the club for getting the project over the line, with a special mention for Lesley McCormack and Denise McDonald.

"I met the two women last year - Lesley and Denise – about what could be done for the club. From being a councillor and an ex-member of Kildare Town, you could see there was so much needed, but I said to them that there were projects that would benefit not only the club, but also the town itself.

“There was an opportunity there for an AstroTurf pitch to make a massive change to Kildare. Lesley and Denise were well on board, and they said, ‘yeah, that's what we'll do; we'll go for an AstroTurf.'

“That was in 2025. These two women don't let the grass grow under their feet, because in January of 2026, Phase One of the project was started, which was the installation of the new lights. I put them in contact with Minister Martin Hayden, and they got the grant for the lights. And it was on that then they kicked on to try and get the next stage.” 

Mr Curran explained how the two women in question, Ms McCormack and Ms McDonald, became so deeply routed in the process, saying, “They have kids that play with the club and they got talking while going along to games about what was going on in the club and the actual real estate that was there.

“They were (fed up) with matches being called off last winter and teams not being able to play on the pitches when the weather was bad. So, it was an ideal scenario to put in a 3G pitch, have revenue coming in for the club, and facilitate so many other organisations and clubs in the town.” 

The club are aiming to have to project completed by the end of September, with the possibility of a special commemorative fixture to mark the official opening.

The total cost of the project is an estimated €320,000, with the majority coming through grants. However, a significant portion of the final figure was raised by the club, with a number of fundraisers, including bag packs, runs, walks, sponsorships and more bringing in close to €80,000.

Mr Curren also discussed the possibility of bringing a sponsor onboard at Rathbride Road, saying, “There’s 12,500 people in Kildare Town, and it's the only soccer club, so there’s a major opportunity there if a sponsor were to come on board, then it’s going to develop into other projects, the saunas, the gym, these kind of ideas.”