Midland Warriors sets out ambitious plan to build new facilities

Midland Warriors RFC outlined highly ambitious plans to develop new facilities at a launch event which attracted a large attendance to the Grand Hotel, Moate last Wednesday night.

The club has purchased a nine-acre greenfield site on the outskirts of Moate, close to exit 6 off the M6 motorway, where it plans to develop two full-sized rugby pitches, one with floodlights.

As the club attempts to cater for a significant increase in playing numbers, it is planned to develop a clubhouse, four changing rooms and a walking track, with the possibility of developing an astro turf pitch at a later stage.

Work is set to commence in the coming weeks and it is hoped that a considerable amount of the project will be completed by the summer of 2025.

Midland Warriors director of rugby Graham Ross delivered an impressive presentation at last week’s launch. He outlined the early days of the club and the reasons why the club believes it needs to significantly upgrade its facilities.

In a poignant moment, Graham mentioned that there is a “bittersweet” aspect to the location of the club’s exciting new project, as “a terrible tragedy” struck his family not far from the site of the proposed development, adding that they cannot travel this road without feeling a deep sadness.

Although Graham didn’t mention Tim Ross by name, virtually everybody in attendance knew he was referring to the road traffic accident that claimed the life of his young nephew in 2016. Both of Tim’s parents, Katharine and Richard were present at the launch, and Graham expressed hope that the new development would create “positive feelings” in the future.

Based in Moate, Midland Warriors also draws players from such areas as Mount Temple, Castledaly, Tubber, Ballycumber, Rosemount, Ballymore, Drumraney, Streamstown, Horseleap, Clara and Kilbeggan.

Graham has been involved with the club right from the start in various capacities, along with people such as his sister-in-law Katharine Ross and Hugh Flynn.

The club was founded in 2005 but Graham recalled its humble origins as “eight or nine lads in the middle of an old GAA pitch near the Business College”. By way of contrast, he remarked that 86 girls turned up at the club’s recent ‘Give It A Try’ event, something he described as “mayhem in a good way”.

As time went on in the club’s early days, it gradually gained the trust of the town and surrounding community. In 2007, the Showgrounds (the venue for the Moate Agricultural Show for many years) became the club’s temporary home. Graham thanked the Mitchell family, owners of these grounds, for allowing the club to use them.

In 2010, the Carmelite Order allowed the club the use of their pitches. Graham remarked that All-Ireland winning Carmelite football teams of the past had trained on these pitches, and he said the local community was glad to see them being utilised again for sporting activities.

In 2007, Midland Warriors fielded its first youths team and, in 2010, the first adult men’s team took to the field, with Graham as captain. There was a new milestone reached in 2023 with the first adult women’s team fielded.

Graham descried the Minis section as “the lifeblood” of the club and noted how the club won the ‘Become Cup’ at a renowned underage rugby tournament in Blackrock earlier this year - a trophy that is awarded for behaviour on and off the pitch as well as rugby skills displayed.

Ronan Foxe, who represented Ireland in the Under-20 World Cup, played with Midland Warriors as a youngster and he has retained his links to the club.

The Warriors U-15 team claimed silverware last year, with the U-16s since winning the Eileen Johnson Memorial Cup. Six players from the club were selected for trials with Leinster’s Midlands area squad earlier this year, with three making the squad.

The Midland Warriors women’s team won Division 5B of the Leinster League in the 2023/2024 season, defeating the Garda club in the decisive fixture with a last-gasp try. This was a victory which meant a huge amount to the club, with many members of the panel having never played rugby before this campaign.

But of course it’s not all about winning titles or trophies, with Graham stressing that camaraderie and fun are key elements in the Midland Warriors story.

Emphasising the huge growth in playing numbers, Graham noted that the club had 159 players and 19 coaches/managers in the 2022/23 season, but these numbers jumped to 278 players and 37 coaches/managers for the 2023/24 season.

MC for the launch event was Martin Horan, well known locally for his involvement with Moate Golf Club, and he welcomed a wide range of “luminaries” to the event.

Former IRFU President Des Kavanagh spoke at the event, while former Leinster Rugby President Robert McDermott was also among the attendance.

A Carlow native, Mr Kavanagh spoke about his efforts to promote Leinster as a “12-county province” in rugby terms, and how some people in Dublin had to be persuaded that there is “life outside the M50”.

The development of clubs like Midland Warriors was connected to these efforts, and he noted that the club has embraced all the opportunities that have come its way.

He said Leinster is very committed to supporting clubs throughout the province regarding providing advice and assisting with issues such as accessing grant aid.

Mr Kavanagh noted the funding of €36 million the Irish government gave to the IRFU to help it get through the Covid-19 pandemic, and he stressed the importance of sport to the physical and mental health of society.

The President elect of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Moate woman Trina Murray, was among those who was welcomed to the event. Indeed, many of those in attendance would be more known for their involvement with local GAA clubs, whether as players, coaches or officials.

Buccaneers RFC, the Athlone-based neighbouring rugby club of Warriors, was represented at the launch, and there was a wide cross section of sporting figures in attendance, including professional boxer and Moate native, Joe Ward.

And with the local and European elections approaching next month, several election candidates were present on the night.