New €900k Cavan sports complex opens

Keep fit fanatics in and those who want to get in shape for the coming year in Cavan town and the surrounding area have no excuses following the unveiling of a new €900,000 extension and refurbishment of the Cavan Sports and Leisure Complex in Drumalee on Monday afternoon. The new facilities are open to the public from today (Saturday). Work was completed last month thanks to funding from Cavan County and Town Councils, as well as Cavan Regional Health Sport and Leisure Company Ltd. The new facilities include the development of a new kiddies pool, two state-of-the-art slides, including additional leisure space on the first floor level. There is a new fitness gym and new astro turf pitch. The contractor who carried out the construction works on the Cavan Sports Complex was Adston Ltd. A number of accessibility improvements were also carried out. The council secured funding of €50,000 in 2009 under the National Disability Strategy. This enabled them to provide the provision of accessible ramps at the front of the complex, the installation of a lift to the gym, accessible ramps to the rear of the complex, and two toilets in the sports hall, The astro turf pitch was provided through funding of €49,000 from Rapid dormant accounts. Work on this project was undertaken by Sportslawn Ltd - Kilrush, Co. Clare last September. Cavan Town Council provided funding of €10,000. A further €28,000 was provided by Cavan County Council and the Cavan Regional, Health Sport Leisure Company Ltd. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, said this was a very significant milestone in the history of the complex, which was so central to the sporting, recreation and cultural life of the Cavan area. In 1988/89, John Wilson as a government minister was very active in supporting the work of Cavan County Council and the swimming pool committee in getting government approval and funding for the pool. Minister Smith commended the excellent work of that committee and also the support of the council. "For 29 years it has developed as a vital recreational outlet for local people of all ages and as well as promoting healthy lifestyles and fitness, it has shaped the development of many outstanding sportsmen and women." It was not only sportsmen and women that the building had shaped, as it had resonated over the years with the highs and lows of many an election count, he added. They were all too aware, that levels of obesity, especially in the young, was now a very serious problem. One in eight Irish people were obese and every second person overweight. As a result, half of the population was at an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stated the minister. "Facilities, such as this complex have a vital part to play promoting healthy lifestyles and combating obesity in our local population." The new lift, ramps and accessible toilets had made the facility a friendly place for people with disabilities and could now justifiably claim to be a place of leisure and recreation that embraces the needs of all, added the Cavan/Monaghan deputy. Completed to FAI standards, the astro turf pitch was being widely utilised by local youth, community and sporting organisations, he added. The cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Winston Bennett, welcomed the refurbishment. "I was very tempted to try the slides." The facility had come a long way since the late '80s but there was still some land to the front of the complex he would like to see developed. Mayor of Cavan town, Andrew Boylan, congratulated everyone involved "in this fine development". He doubted that there was such a facility anywhere else in the country. Cllr. Boylan paid tribute to the foresight of the council executive back in the '80s, as well as the members of the county and town councils, and but for their vision they would not have the complex they now had. "If we are going to attract people to live in this town and develop business or just holiday, facilities like this have to be part and parcel of the infrastructure." Cllr. Paddy Conaty who was chairman of the swimming pool committee back in the '80s said there was a committee before that one and between them they raised £300,000 for the new swimming pool. He paid tribute to the late Margaret Tully, their former treasurer, and he congratulated the staff of the pool, leisure complex and Breifne Swimming Club. County Manager Jack Keyes, said: "These fantastic new facilities broaden the range of activities and services that the Cavan Sports Complex can offer to children and adults of all ages. The works carried out makes these facilities accessible to all demonstrates our commitment to the whole community." The £300,000 raised by the two committee would equate to almost €3m today and he hoped that civic spirit would continue. Frances Galligan, on behalf of the committees of 1969 and the '80s and a daily user of the facilities, said she hoped everyone appreciated the wonderful administration and staff the council had in the pool. They did excellent work every day and they were kind and courteous. The company that ran the complex were certainly providing value for money, she concluded.