Old Gym Rugby Pitch

[Paul McLouhlin]

During the 1970's and 80's I played rugby on the pitch on which the new assault course is now built. It was always said that the pitch was playable when other pitches were not due to the fact that it was built on ashes and frost and rain were not going to stop a game.
Does anyone know if this is true and if so any background info.

[kellquinn]

Hi Paul
The pitch was built by the German Prisoners of War interned in nearby Tin Town, it was indeed built from Ashes and cinders along with a combination of peat, sand and soil, it is indeed true that it had all the qualities of an all weather pitch as we would know it now, its drainage was and is simply the best piece of work around the Camp and still stands the test of time. Any relation to Maxie?.
Regards and I hope this will answer your question.
JKelly. A true Rugby Fan, up Leinster and Ireland

[johnnykelly]

Re:Old Gym Rugby Pitch
Hi Paul
long time no see, just to add to Joey's info re the makings of the base of the Gym Field ( later known as the rugby pitch) the foundation was of cinders/ash collected from all of the fires from the cookhouses/billets etc from within the Camp, as we speak there is a sprinting and running track being built on the outside of the assault course. with the sprinting track being constructed on the old gym side of the pitch and when they removed the top soil they unearthed the cinder/ash covering layers, very seldom was the pitch flooded or unplayable, ps Phil Denver was promoted to BQMS in Move Con. Keep well.
Johnny x NCO School

[Paul McLoughlin]

Thanks guys, very comprehensive answer.
While I am at it,I remember the old gym beside the rugby pitch which I thought had an indoor track. It was damaged by fire in 1970's ? It was later used by the Equatation School.
I wonder did my father run there-he went to his grave as All-Army 400 yard champion (it was changed to 400m and he held the old title!)

[johnnykelly]

Re: Old Gym Rugby Pitch
Hi Paul
indeed Paul there was a good wooden indoor running track that ran from the floor of the old gym and took in the horse training (old church) and was widely used for running meets, at the partion wall end (middle of the running track there was a sand pit that was used for long jump pole vault etc, I cannot recall you late father as a runner. but I do recall him having being very keen boxer and in his latter years was always involved in the training of the comd boxing teams in preparation of the all army championships. you should have seen him in the use of a skipping rope even into his mature years he could skip for ages without a blink of an eye. getting back to the old gym pitch surface if you can recall the surface just in front of the railings of the old pool boiler house, the black ground was made of old ashes from the boiler house over the years, so you can imagine how much ash was required to cover the gym field, it is also stated that McDonagh pitch is of the same surface.
bye for now
Johnny

[Paul McLoughlin]

Brilliant, thanks