Complex Development Plans
A brief history of the club's indoor training facilities
For many years the club's main winter indoor training facility was the original North Tipperary Agricultural Show hall (known locally as the 'Show Grounds') and to a lesser extent the Vocational school's gym facilities. The Show Grounds was first rented in 1956, a year after the club's inception. The hall protected athletes from the elements but was limited in size, this and other factors spurred the ambitous club committee on to develop the original version of the current facilities which were in use from 1984 on-wards. The core structure including the original warm up area was completed by 1990, and hosted Ireland's first national indoor championship in 1988. Clicking on the link will open a YouTube video showing this event.
Some of the features of the track are as unique today as they were in 1990 when the tartan banked track came into being. No other indoor track that we know of can boast ten sprint lanes as well as two long jump pits.
More recent developments
Phase 1 - completed in 2011 - the provision of ladies and gents toilets and changing rooms in an area covering 150 sq m.
Phase 2 - completed in 2012 - upgrading of the warm up area to a tartan surface.
The existing tarmac surface was removed and a new one laid to a higher specification. A tartan running surface has been laid on this, so the warm up area of 600 sq m is now surfaced and lined to modern standards.
Prior to the upgrade this area consisted of a more basic tarmac surface on which rubber belts were placed side by side so forming a series of running lanes on which athletes could train while wearing spikes. These mats were previously used as conveyor belts in mines outside the local Silvermines village.
Phase 3 and beyond
Our next phase
Other future developments we aspire to include:
Much of the plans for phase 3 and beyond are conditional on purchase of a portion of the field around the complex and, of course, the finances available to us. The club has received essential financial assistance from the Leader Project, the Department of Sport and Tourism amd the North Tipp Sport Partnership for the aforementioned projects as well as advice and assistance from local politicians. In addition to the above finances the club has had to supplement these grants with their own fundraising. Our development committee now has the assistance of a newly formed fundraising group.
For many years the club's main winter indoor training facility was the original North Tipperary Agricultural Show hall (known locally as the 'Show Grounds') and to a lesser extent the Vocational school's gym facilities. The Show Grounds was first rented in 1956, a year after the club's inception. The hall protected athletes from the elements but was limited in size, this and other factors spurred the ambitous club committee on to develop the original version of the current facilities which were in use from 1984 on-wards. The core structure including the original warm up area was completed by 1990, and hosted Ireland's first national indoor championship in 1988. Clicking on the link will open a YouTube video showing this event.
Some of the features of the track are as unique today as they were in 1990 when the tartan banked track came into being. No other indoor track that we know of can boast ten sprint lanes as well as two long jump pits.
More recent developments
Phase 1 - completed in 2011 - the provision of ladies and gents toilets and changing rooms in an area covering 150 sq m.
Phase 2 - completed in 2012 - upgrading of the warm up area to a tartan surface.
The existing tarmac surface was removed and a new one laid to a higher specification. A tartan running surface has been laid on this, so the warm up area of 600 sq m is now surfaced and lined to modern standards.
Prior to the upgrade this area consisted of a more basic tarmac surface on which rubber belts were placed side by side so forming a series of running lanes on which athletes could train while wearing spikes. These mats were previously used as conveyor belts in mines outside the local Silvermines village.
Phase 3 and beyond
Our next phase
- Purchase of land adjoining the complex
- A new hall at the rear of the complex measuring approx 600 sq m incorporating modern pole vault and indoor throwing event facilities. The hall will have an open plan view from the main arena.
- A new insulated front facade to the building
- An elevated balcony area overlooking the running track inside the front elevation
- Gym and weights room
- Equipment storage areas
- Upgrading of waste water facilities
Other future developments we aspire to include:
- An extended car-parking area
- A warm up circuit around the permiter of the field in which the complex lies
- The creation of a new entrance to the complex from Ballygraigue road.
(The re-design of the new entrance may involve the demolition of the unoccupied house beside our current entrance gates.)
Much of the plans for phase 3 and beyond are conditional on purchase of a portion of the field around the complex and, of course, the finances available to us. The club has received essential financial assistance from the Leader Project, the Department of Sport and Tourism amd the North Tipp Sport Partnership for the aforementioned projects as well as advice and assistance from local politicians. In addition to the above finances the club has had to supplement these grants with their own fundraising. Our development committee now has the assistance of a newly formed fundraising group.
