Leevale AC to develop €1.7 million athletics training facility

It was announced recently that Leevale AC plan to develop a new high performance athletics centre for the club in Cork City. This is a major investment for the club as the venture is expected to cost €1.7 million and will be paid from a a building fund which was set up back in the 1990's and some capital grants.

The new athletics centre will be located in what was the old Top Car building on Farranlea Road.

Old Top Car building with the new Leevale facility above

The map below shows the location of the new Leevale athletics centre. It's is near Victoria Cross, Dennehy's Cross and the County Hall.

The main sports hall inside has dimensions of 31.6m x 26.7m and the floor plan is shown below....

As you can see, most of the major disciplines of track and field are catered for. There is also a separate gym area as shown below.

As you can see from the artist's impressions, it should be a fantastic facility and should enable Leevale AC to compete at the highest levels.

Further reading...
Article on the Evening Echo website.
Article on the Irish Examiner website.

Media Briefing Of New World Class High Performance Training Centre in Dublin

Various media sources were shown yesterday around the new €4million High Performance Training Centre at the Irish Institute of Sport in Dublin. The Centre, based on the National Sport Campus will provide a World Class Training and Support Environment where Irish high performance athletes, coaches and support staff train, meet and exchange expertise.

The Centre also features a 4 lane indoor 130m track with performance analysis equipment, integrated long jump and a fully equipped world class physical conditioning area.

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy said..."I am delighted to see the new High Performance Training Centre come on stream as we look towards Rio and beyond. As part of the investment, we consulted intensively with athletes, coaches, performance directors and specialists across the team to consider design, layout and equipment based on our sports current needs and also to ensure future proofing this support environment."

VIDEO: High Performance Training Centre at the Irish Institute of Sport, Dublin @jacquihurley #rtesport https://t.co/X5wT32Wl5V

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 7, 2016

For more info, see...
a) Press release from the Irish Sports Council
b) The 42.ie news item

Irish Sports Council announce athlete funding for 2012...

The Irish Sports Council have announced their funding grants for Irish athletes in 2012....

€40,000 – Podium: Olive Loughnane, Derval O'Rourke, Robert Heffernan, David Gillick

€20,000 - World Class: Ciaran O'Lionard, Deirdre Ryan, Fionnuala Britton, Paul Hession

€12,000 - International: Alistair Cragg, Stephanie Reilly, Linda Byrne, Mark Kenneally, Brendan Boyce, Joe Sweeney, Ciara Mageean, Joanne Cuddihy, Ava Hutchison

Ailis McSweeney, Thomas Chamney, Mary Cullen, Kelly Proper, Colin Griffin and David Campbell all lost theirs grants, though the first three could be restored quickly if they pass upcoming medicals.

It looks however as if these grants will be most likely be cut in future years once the London Olympics are over. The chairman of the Irish Sports Council John Treacy said his organisation is expecting a 5 per cent cut in funding next year and it may also be hit with a further five per cent cut the following year. This follows a series of cuts to the overall sports budget. 

It might be worth pointing out that many of those listed above are not full time athletes. Besides trying to train as if they were full time athletes, they have jobs as well. In that context, the grants are welcome but by no means huge. And of course, the more successful an athlete is, the more they get. Fionnuala Britton moved up to €20,000 after her Eurpean Cross Country win last December. Mark Kenneally and Linda Byrne get grants after running qualifying time for the Olympic Marathon.

The most recent person to qualify was Ava Hutchinson when she ran 2:35:33 in Houston, Texas last January. Not only did that qualify her for the Olympics and a €12,000 grant but she also won $4,000 by finishing 4th in the race. Often a little success can make things so much easier. Not mentioned above of course are those who have been trying hard but are just on the other side of the line. Those that get no grants. There was article recently in the Irish Independent titled 'It can be a dark place at times' which gives an idea of what it might be like for those just out of the limelight.