Plans advancing for new Mayo Community Sports and Recreational Centre
Planning application for the proposed new Community Sports and Recreational Centre in Claremorris has been lodged with Mayo County Council
The planning application for the proposed new Community Sports and Recreational Centre in Claremorris has been lodged with Mayo County Council. The site is on the old Racecourse grounds, close to the Alan Feeley Park as well as Colts rugby training grounds with Concannon Park soccer pitch also nearby.
The people behind the planned venture envisage it serving as a central hub for sports, youth and community activity in Claremorris and the wider region. It will feature a modern indoor sports hall, high-quality changing facilities, a safe space for youth groups, and multi-functional rooms for events, workshops and community use.
With the submission of a planning application now in place, the project is another step closer to being ‘shovel-ready’, which is a key criteria for any State funding application. The committee looks forward to engaging further with Minister Dara Calleary on the Community Centres Investment Fund - New Builds Measure, which was set up by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in 2023 to invest in new and ambitious community projects.
“The speed of project progress is not just about a dedicated team driving it - it reflects the critical need and urgency for this development in Claremorris”, said Catriona Doherty, co-chair of the project’s committee.
She added: “For an organisation that was only established as a company by limited guarantee in June 2024, the level of awareness and buy-in from the community, public officials, local sporting clubs and national sporting bodies, as well as youth and community organisations is incredible. The achievement of so many critical milestones in such a short time frame is a response to the urgent need for this development. It is one that not only opens doors to the establishment of new sporting clubs for Claremorris but also delivers an accessible and inclusive amenity that serves the youth and a variety of community groups that currently do not have a space to call home in the town.”