Close to €3.3 Million announced for Shannonside Recreational Campus

The Shannonside Recreational Campus in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, is set to receive a significant funding boost of €3.3 million from the Irish government as part of a larger investment in local sports infrastructure. This funding is part of an almost €9 million allocation for two major sports projects in Leitrim and Roscommon, highlighting the government’s commitment to enhancing community sports facilities.

The Shannonside Recreational Campus will serve as a central hub for athletics and various sports, featuring an advanced athletics track, an AstroTurf pitch, a multi-sport arena, and a standard grass pitch. This development aims to cater to the diverse sporting needs of the local community and provide top-notch facilities for both training and competition.

Local Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan praised the funding announcement, stating that this investment is crucial for the Shannonside project’s progression. He emphasized that the new facilities will promote increased participation in sports and physical activities, fostering a healthier community. With its modern amenities, the campus is expected to attract a variety of sports events and training programs, benefiting athletes of all ages and abilities.

This funding will enable the development of "an 8 lane 400m athletics track with an internal grass pitch, full-size multi-sport 4G pitch with floodlights and dressing rooms."

“I wish to thank and acknowledge the assistance of the Minister for Sport, Catherine Martin TD whose door was always open to my representations for both the Carrick and Sligo projects, without the Minister’s input it would have been difficult to secure this funding," said Feighan.

“A new ‘use it or lose it’ rule is being implemented to ensure there will be timely delivery of these projects, guaranteeing the people of Leitrim will benefit from the projects soon."

In addition to the Shannonside Recreational Campus, the funding will also support the Dermot Early Centre of Excellence in Roscommon, demonstrating a broader commitment to improving sports infrastructure in the region. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has also acknowledged the importance of this funding, congratulating several other local initiatives that received a combined total of €13.5 million in support. These projects include the Cavan Regional Sports Campus, the Seafield Community Facility in Meath, and the Mayo Sports Campus in Castlebar.

The funding for the Shannonside Recreational Campus is part of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), established under the National Sports Policy published in 2018. The LSSIF aims to provide essential financial support for larger sports projects, ensuring that communities have access to high-quality facilities that exceed the investment limits of previous funding programs.

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