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Finish line in sight for Limerick Regional Athletics Hub in Newcastle West

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2 years ago

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Limerick Regional Athletics Hub will contain an athletics track, floodlights, and a fully lit walking path on the track perimeter, field sports such as shot putt, discus, hammer, javelin, long jump, high jump and pole vault will have car, bus and bicycle parking along with toilets and water point.

The date for the final layering of the track surface will now take place in the Spring of 2023

Councillors Tom Ruddle, Francis Foley, Liam Galvin and Jerome Scanlon were pictured with Cathaoirleach Limerick City and County Council Michael Collins at the turning of the first sod. Picture: Marie Keating.

The Limerick Regional Athletics Hub in Newcastle West is nearing completion, Limerick City and County Council can confirm.

The date for the final layering of the track surface will now take place in the Spring of 2023.


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The process of applying the final layer to World Athletics standard track is weather dependent. A significant increase in rainfall in September 2022, means the climate conditions are now not conducive to laying the final layer before the spring.

Gordon Daly, Director of Community, Tourism and Culture with Limerick City and County Council said: “The inclement weather has put a stall on the final layer of the track. However, the delay until Spring 2023, is necessary to ensure this top-class facility is built and maintained to the highest possible standard.”

Ben Noonan, Senior Executive Engineer with Limerick City and County added: “Laying a sports track surface of this standard requires specific climatic conditions. September 2022 had 44% more rainfall when compared to September 2021 and 148% more than 2020. In order to ensure we have a track to the highest of standards, we must adhere to best practices and expertise thus lay the track when the weather conditions are conducive to doing so. All other works on the site will be completed by the end of 2022”

The Limerick Regional Athletics Hub facility will contain an athletics track to international World Athletics standard, floodlights for the track and a fully lit walking path on the track perimeter, field sports such as shot putt, discus, hammer, javelin, long jump, high jump and pole vault and will have car, bus and bicycle parking along with toilets and water point.

The facility is funded by Limerick City and County Council, a large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund, which is part of Project Ireland 2040 administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, hinterland funding which has been received from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the JP McManus Benevolent Fund.

For more information on the Ireland 2040 project, go HERE

For other stories on the Regional Hub, go HERE

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