McInerney Homes in partnership with the Doughiska Residents Association has announced plans for the provision of a spectacular new community and sports complex on the east side of Galway city. Situated in Doughiska, this 4,200sq m facility will bring a whole new set of leisure and community options to Galway city and its environs.
Currently in the design phase, this recreational landmark located off the Doughiska road will complement the existing adjacent playing fields and will service the present and ever-growing populations in the area. DRA planning and strategy committee chairperson, Dan Hurley, is excited about the prospect of developing such a community facility. “We have identified the needs of the community to include a community and recreational facility that will become a focal point in the areas of Doughiska, Roscam, and Ardaun and are excited at the prospect of delivering this facility,” he said.
The plans for the complex identify four distinct areas, namely aquatics, gym, sports hall, and crèche.
Swimmers will love the aquatics area of the club with a 25 metre main swimming pool, children’s learner pool, a health suite which includes sauna and steam rooms, and a spectacular hydrotherapy pool. With significant public access this swimming pool will rival Leisureland as a public facility serving the entire east side of the city. It is also hoped that a swimming club will be based from the facility.
The 1,250sq m sports hall will contain two full size basketball courts with a divider curtain separating each court. The design allows for a full range of indoor court sports such as badminton, volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, etc. The retractable curtain and seating means that the hall can be transformed into a venue suitable for tournaments, concerts, plays, etc.
Abundant space is available throughout the entire facility as the gym on the first floor provides enough room to contain a free weights section, core training section, a strength training section, and a cardio theatre with capacity for more than 60 cardio machines.
One of the unique characteristics of this complex is the provision of a high performance studio for teams to avail of power training through plyometrics and with the provision of lifting platforms and squat racks. This will provide an opportunity for teams to upgrade their training programmes from simple circuits to a more professional powerlifting and speed, agility, quickness training.
Two multi-purpose studios on the first floor will suit a range of activities. Apart from the usual fitness classes, the design allows another unique feature for a sports complex in Ireland in the provision of a hosting facility for visiting teams. Commonplace in continental Europe, this is an area that comprises a kitchen and dining facility with a sleeping area to accommodate teams that may visit the city to play against local teams.
The studios can be quickly transformed to serve other uses such as teaching/education centres with audio-visual equipment provided. Drama/arts and theatre would also be well suited and accommodated.
As an integral part of the community, the facility provides office space for local sports clubs. This is available to many different codes that will be using the sports hall or the adjacent playing fields. All the usual amenities are included with spacious changing facilities and two outdoor changing rooms to service the playing fields.
The ground floor also sees the provision of an 80 person community crèche facility covering 400sq m. This is a community facility that will address the shortage of available and affordable crèche spaces and will complement the entire complex and the concept of a community and sports complex.
“Local elected representatives have been briefed on the project, the feedback was extremely positive and unequivocal support was promised to the facility and in particular to the securing of necessary grant assistance to ensure delivery of the much needed facility,” said Fergus McMahon of McInerney Homes.
It is anticipated that the facility would open its doors in 2010.
