The Spraoi sa Choill committee was formed in 2012 by a group of local people to create a sustainable adventure park and playground in the village of Clonbur. During the following years, with the help of Coillte and CDS Teo., a woodland site was secured on Coillte land at the edge of the village and planning permission was applied for and granted by Galway County Council. Since then generous donations from so many people and several fundraising events contributed to work already done. 

After seven years of preparing, planning, fundraising and applying for grants, we were delighted to open the gates of Spraoi sa Choill/Clonbur Woodland Park in October 2019. Word quickly spread around the area that we were ‘open for business’ and it was evident from the outset that Spraoi sa Choill would be very popular with children — young and old — their parents, grandparents and minders as carpark space was a premium! 

Sunday 27th October 2019, the day of the official opening finally dawned, and the weather was better than we could ever have hoped for — a clear blue sky and sunshine — something we never expected for one of the last days in October! Perhaps it was thanks to our local Parish Priest – Fr. Gerry Burns – who blessed the playground! The Minister Seán Kyne and Mr. Éamon O’Cuiv TD addressed all those who had gathered for this very special occasion. The chairperson of the Spraoi sa Choill committee – Niamh McGing — also spoke and thanked everyone who helped to turn this dream into a reality.

To get the playground to what it is today, we secured CLAR and LEADER funding and raised €40,00 through local fundraising events and corporate donations. We will be forever grateful to all those people in Clonbur and its surrounding areas as well those farther afield who so generously supported this project in every way they could.