An exclusive first look at €20m Limerick GAA centre of excellence project

WE CAN reveal for the first time this week, how Limerick GAA’s new Centre of Excellence in Crecora may appear if it gets planning permission.

Renders from the award-winning architectural firm Healy Partners, based at Glentworth Street in the city centre, reveal a detailed blueprint for the multi-million Euro project at Jockeyhall, just off the N20/M20 between Patrickswell and Adare.

It’s been billed by representatives of Limerick Gaelic Grounds Ltd, which is seeking permission from the local authority, as: “a flagship centre for the development and celebration of the people, games, culture and heritage of the GAA in Limerick”.

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Limerick County Board has also thrown its weight behind the project expected to cost more than €20m.

In a letter of support, the board said it is “prepared to develop this facility into a state-of-the-art complex to ensure future generations of Gaelic games players can hone their skills to the highest levels representing our great county which we are all very proud of.”

Above: Architect’s visual illustrating the relationship between the existing historic house (left), the walled garden (right), and the proposed pavilion. The proposed centre of excellence has been billed as ‘a flagship for the development and celebration of the people, games, culture and heritage of the GAA in Limerick'

It was this publication which exclusively revealed news that the planning application was to be lodged for the 95-acre site last month.

According to the ambitious proposals, there will be six floodlit natural grass pitches, two floodlit all-weather synthetic pitches and one sod replacement pitch.

One indoor pitch is expected to be constructed as well as two, three-sided precast concrete ball walls with netting, fencing, goalposts, goal-post netting and dug-outs to all playing pitches.

A two-storey pavilion building will be constructed measuring around 4,285 square metres.

This will feature changing rooms, a gym, first aid and physiotherapy rooms plus meeting rooms and offices.

Also in the new complex, it’s envisaged there will be a multi-purpose hall, an auditorium, kitchen, dining space plus a service courtyard.

“It will provide for the development of state-of-the-art training facilities for county level squads tailored to the needs of all Gaelic Games codes across both genders, from child to adult level. This will represent a very significant addition to the active recreational and sports infrastructure in Limerick and it will enable the continued growth of Gaelic Games across Limerick City and County,” documents to council planners state.

Projections provided to planners also reveal up to 573 people each day could use the facility once complete.

In a design brief, Healy Partners have stated that a key element of the plan is to retain and reuse an existing house on the site.

“Rather than treating the house as a constraint, we have taken an innovative approach, integrating it meaningfully into the scheme. The restored house will now function as the central landmark and principal entrance, reinforcing its historic prominence within the landscape. It accommodates the reception, boardroom and a suite of office spaces, functions that benefit from a more flexible layout, increased privacy and a quiet working environment,” the architect added.
Healy Partners added that the way it has designed the new pavilion building has been done with its surroundings in mind.

“The architectural design is carefully composed to blend harmoniously with the parkland setting at Jockeyhall. To achieve this, we have selected a refined and durable palette of natural materials, wood, glass, concrete and native stone, each chosen for its ability to complement and enhance both the historic context and surrounding landscape. These materials are gracefully allowing the pavilion to settle naturally into its environment over time and reinforcing a sense of continuity with the existing estate,” the design statement reads.

Healy Partners have described the pavilion as being “intentionally understated”, and partially concealed within the trees and terrain. “This subtle presence creates a sense of anticipation with the building gradually unveiling itself as one moves deeper into the park.”

A decision is due to be made on the project by council planners next month.