National Recognition For

Templemore Athletic Stadium Design

Following on from the recent major awards to Sean Naughton,  Emby Walsh and Thomas Chamney, Templemore Athletic Club was feted at a function in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on the 30^th of January 2010.  The occasion was the annual Local Authorities Management Association Awards (LAMA).  These, annual, awards are made under a variety of headings and incorporate all aspects of architectural design during the previous three years.

Templemore Athletic Club, having been  nominated by North Tipperary County Council, was short listed from an initial entry of 193 projects, from all over Ireland. The other short listed projects were  Dun Laoghaire Community Swimming Pool   and Tallagh Stadium (Soccer) Dublin.  The Templemore project was finally placed second, to Dun Laoghaire, making it the first ever Athletic Club to be honoured in this competition.   Representing  the club  on the night were Mr Mick O’Connell, Chairman of the Track Development Committee and Mr Michael Smith, former Government Minister.

Why Templemore Athletic Track.

The track surface, including the field event run up areas . is designed to insure that  rain water is drained off as and where it lands.  This insures that the facility can be used, regardless of weather conditions, for championships,  training and recreation.   I special procedure, first used on the surface of the track in Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games  involves making the top surface and the underling tar macadam  porous.    The facility was designed by Club member Adrian McGinley and Garrett McHugh with a significant input from Eamon Ashe of Swords Sports & Leisure  (The Construction Firm)

A Brief History of the Facility

The track, situated in he Town Park, in Templemore, was first opened in 1980 as an all weather, dedicated, athletics facility.  From then until 2003 it was the venue for most county championships each year.  Also  during that period a number of Munster championships were staged there.  Its importance to Tipperary Athletics was only fully appreciated when in 2003  it closed for a period of 3 years for the upgrade to its present standard.   The substantial funding for the project, including all the new equipment and furnishings consisted of 48% government grants and the remainder from local fund raising, which is still ongoing.  Since it’s reopening in 2007 all Tipperary championships have been held there  as well as  Munster and National championships.   Because of its central location, (in an all Ireland context) it is envisaged that it will become a major venue for National Championships in the future.

Recreational Use

Apart from its use as a first class  athletics facility it is also used, on a daily/nightly basis, as a venue for keep fit groups and individuals.  The floodlit track is an ideal off road and safe  environment for this kind of activity  for all ages.  Below are the general opening hours  for recreational use.  These may change from time to time to facilitate fixtures and other bookings

Monday to Thursday  9.30am   to 12.00 Noon & 5.30pm to 9,00pm

Fridays                          5.30pm to 9.00pm

Saturdays                      10.00am                       to 4.00pm

Sundays                        10.00am                       to 1.00pm

Conclusion

 Apart from its award winning design the project and facility is a perfect example of what can be achieved by local dedication and vision.  Well done and congratulations to Templemore Athletic Club on the award and on their fantastic  facility