TUS and Cycling Ireland to develop €15.4 million velodrome project in Limerick

TUS and Cycling Ireland to develop €15.4 million velodrome project in Limerick

Memorandum of understanding to develop €15.4 million velodrome project signed by TUS and Cycling Ireland

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and Cycling Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an indoor velodrome which willl be central to the proposed new multipurpose sports arena on TUS Coonagh Campus.

TUS applied for planning permission in July from Limerick City and County Council for an indoor arena that will be constructed from a twin-skin pressurised system, similar to the design of the Raymond Poulidor Velodrome in France.

The proposed building includes a 200-metre cycling track, changing facilities, 476 permanent seated spectator viewing, storage and WC facilities.

The proposed 8,000 sqm arena is also designed to provide facilities for various sports including gymnastics, badminton, volleyball and tennis, as well as for exams, lectures and events.

Speaking about the project, CEO of Cycling Ireland, James Quilligan, said building a “community-based” facility which includes the velodrome track will “encourage participation” and that it could be a “satellite feeder to the Sport Ireland Campus velodrome for events, competitions, and the development of future representative cyclists”.

TUS and Cycling Ireland have agreed to pursue the €15.4 million velodrome project as a joint application through the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.  It is hoped the arena will be completed in 2027.

#News TUS and @CyclingIreland sign MOU to develop €15M indoor Velodrome and multi-use arena in Limerick

Read all about it here 👇https://t.co/InkwVBvsXm pic.twitter.com/n3L9B5pzNR— Technological University of the Shannon (@TUS_ie) August 28, 2024

The Limerick arena is set to become the first indoor velodrome outside Dublin, as plans are also in motion for Ireland’s first indoor cycling track at National Velodrome and Badminton Centre in Abbotstown, which is also scheduled for completion by 2027.

Welcoming the partnership with the national governing body for cycling on the island of Ireland, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “The shared values of the university and Cycling Ireland provide the foundations for a strong relationship to meet these goals, working together to provide much-needed sport facilities for athletes, while also opening up opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities on the north side of Limerick city and the wider region.

“With our new campus at Coonagh, we have capacity for sports developments and the ideally positioned, multi-use arena incorporating a velodrome will help the development of the north side of the city, while offering wider benefits to Limerick and to the Midwest.”

James Quilligan added, “We are excited that the development of such a facility in Limerick will help develop the sport here and allow international athletes to train here.”

Jimmy Browne, Vice President of Campus Services and Capital Development at TUS noted the technological university hopes to continue to provide high-quality facilities which “help increase participation in sport” as well as projects which are in line with the Campus Masterplan, he said, “This facility will form part of our broader City North Sports Park at Coonagh.”

Neill Delhaye, Cycling Ireland High Performance Head Coach, added, “Sports infrastructure projects, like this Limerick Velodrome, have a hugely positive and wide reaching community benefit. To be able to train, race, have fun and compete all year round in a safe, spectator friendly environment is a potential game changer for cycling at every level from participation, pathway development and all the way to high performance.

Mr Delhaye believes it is an exciting time for cycling in Ireland, noting, “It’s very exciting to think we may soon have two velodrome facilities in Ireland.”