Naas AFC Chairman Gavin Barnes and Secretary Mick O’Toole joined past and present sporting leaders at Fletcher’s in Naas town centre to celebrate the landmark 25th anniversary of the Naas Sports Group (NSG) — marking a quarter of a century of vital community sports service.
Leinster Leader: Kildare Sports Group Celebrates a Milestone
Read the official local newspaper report detailing the special gathering in Fletcher’s and 25 years of sports facility achievements in Naas.
A Landmark Milestone for Naas Community Sport
For twenty-five years, the Naas Sports Group on Caragh Road has stood as the vibrant heartbeat of athletic pursuit and grassroots sporting life in County Kildare. The milestone event, celebrated in the warm and historic setting of Fletcher’s in Naas town centre, brought together past and present directors, dedicated staff, and committee members from across the town.
The sports group unites three cornerstone clubs of our local community:
- Naas AFC — Soccer (home to 900+ juvenile and adult players)
- Naas Hockey Club — Field hockey
- Naas Athletic Club — Track, field, and distance athletics
Together, these three organisations formed a visionary partnership a quarter of a century ago to turn agricultural land into one of the most comprehensive multi-sport hubs in the commuter belt.
“Standing alongside the directors, staff, and representatives from our sister clubs at Fletcher’s was a truly proud evening for Naas AFC. When you look back at what has been built over 25 years at the Sports Centre, it is nothing short of remarkable. Countless thousands of young boys and girls have grown up kicking a ball, running the track, and playing hockey on Caragh Road. Our club is immensely grateful to everyone who laid those foundations and continues to maintain this fantastic home for Naas sport.”
— Gavin Barnes, Chairman, Naas AFC
“The strength of Naas Sports Group has always been its shared spirit. Bringing soccer, hockey, and athletics together under one umbrella took tremendous foresight 25 years ago. It has provided our community with stability, pitch capacity, and top-tier amenities that no single club could have achieved alone. Gavin and I were delighted to attend and extend Naas AFC’s deepest gratitude to the board and all the unsung heroes who keep the gates open week in, week out.”
— Mick O’Toole, Secretary, Naas AFC
25th Anniversary Event Highlights
- Original Founders in Attendance: The gathering warmly celebrated the attendance of the original founding directors of Naas Sports Group — Paul Casey, Michael Brophy, John Brady, and John Dunne — who helped guide the initial vision into reality.
- Honouring Chairperson John Brady: A special presentation was made to current chairperson John Brady in recognition of his 25 years of unbroken service on the board as the group’s longest-serving director.
- Saluting Dermot Hassey: Longest-serving staff member Dermot Hassey received an award recognizing a quarter-century of invaluable, day-to-day commitment to the care and running of the grounds.
- Commemorative Booklet: A specially produced retrospective booklet was unveiled, documenting key achievements of the sports centre, historic photographs, and acknowledging the vital support of community partners including Pobal and Kildare County Council.
Caragh Road: The Foundation of Naas Football
For Naas AFC, the Naas Sports Centre on Caragh Road (W91 TE29) represents home. Since the initial move to Caragh Road, the facility has expanded to support five grass match pitches, six floodlit all-weather training zones, a coffee shop, gym facilities, and modern changing amenities.
Every weekend, hundreds of boys and girls in Naas blue take to the pitches across Kildare & District Underage League (KDUL) matches, Senior league clashes, and our bustling Sunday Junior Academy. None of this thriving grassroots activity would be possible without the infrastructure stewarded by Naas Sports Group over the last 25 years.
As Naas continues to grow, Naas AFC looks forward to working hand-in-hand with Naas Sports Group, Naas Hockey Club, Naas Athletic Club, Kildare County Council, and local community stakeholders to expand facilities, install state-of-the-art all-weather artificial pitches, and ensure sports in Naas continue to flourish for the next 25 years and beyond.
Explore More About Naas AFC
Discover our home pitches on our Club Facilities Page, read about the story of our club in Club History, or register a young player to join our ranks via our Want to Join / Registration Page.
