Three sites in mix for new sports campus

The citizens of Cavan could learn in a matter of weeks exactly where a new multi-million euro sports campus will be developed for the county town, The Anglo-Celt has learned.
A feasibility study on the proposed multi-sports facility is currently underway, after the project was first mooted almost 18 months ago.
Once completed, the study will form the basis of an application under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), for which there is a mid-April deadline for submissions. 
Senior officials at Cavan County Council have been actively engaging with relevant stakeholder groups, including locals sports clubs and local landowners, with a view to establishing the type of facilities needed and balancing that with suitable sites and realistic funding.
Believed to be of similar scope to the Clones Erne East 'Peace Link' Sports Centre, early estimates at this stage are that the project could cost multiples of tens of millions of euro to deliver.
The local authority has already outlined its own ambition to secure what would be a landmark investment for the county by setting aside significant funds over the coming years.
Under plans to spend €115 million over the next three years to develop towns and services across the county, the Council is expected to spend sums totalling €450,000 in the initial phases of delivering the sports campus plan in 2019 and 2020.
This would be followed by a much larger investment worth in the region of €4,500,000 in 2021.
Speaking to The Anglo-Celt this week, Director of Services Brendan Jennings confirmed to the Celt the feasibility study has yet to be completed.
However, he stated that having examined “eight sites” across Cavan Town, the number of potential locations has been whittled down, and the Council's focus has now narrowed to just three.
“The whole county had been assessed initially for the provision of a regional sports facility. Upon closer inspection, and in line with what information was returned to us during public consultation, and the feedback from all sporting clubs across the Cavan, the view was developed that, whatever facility comes to fruition, it has be central. It needs to be close to other facilities, it needs to be close to a large centre of population, and in Cavan that's Cavan Town itself,” explained Mr Jennings.
He said engagements with all parties are “ongoing” and the council will “continue to work closely with them with a view to closing that study out".
Mr Jennings concluded that the Council is working with the aim of meeting the April 17 deadline for submissions under the LSSIF, a fund launched last year by the the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The fund was launched with a minimum of €100m being provided, and will initially focus on the requirements and development plans of National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities.
The new fund is separate and distinct from the Department’s long-running Sports Capital Programme (SCP), which is focused on smaller capital projects where the maximum grant is €150,000 for projects.
Locally, the Celt itself recognised the major achievements of local sports stars at a gala awards event at the Cavan Crystal Hotel at the weekend, where West Ham striker and Bailieborough-native Leanne Kiernan walked away with the overall prize.