Location of Newbridge Sports Hub due soon

AN announcement on the location of a sports campus in Newbridge could yet happen before the end of October, if what was said by a senior officer from the Community Section can be taken at face value.

Paula O’Brien, SEO at community had a cryptic smile when she said “and we will be able to announce this soon”, but kept her professional cards very close to her chest as there is still a survey of sports and recreational groups ongoing in the county.

This tantalising admission was made at this week’s monthly meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District on Wednesday (16 October) in reply to a motion from Cllr Noel Heavy.

He proposed that the council “outlines the steps necessary to develop a Sports Campus in Newbridge and to include how the necessary finance might be procured”.

Ms O’Brien indicated in her formal reply to cllr Heavy that: “Kildare County Council is undertaking a survey of sporting organisations and recreational groups in County Kildare that participate in active and passive recreational activities, including those that host activities like schools, leisure centres, community centres and gyms”.

This will also be very helpful in light of the imminent opening of the new Kerdiffstown amenity, and for the allocation of its facilities amongst interested groups throughout the county. 

“This is to inform us about themselves, their membership, where they undertake their activities, the level of activity and what they need in place to ensure that they can operate effectively,” she explained.

“It will help the council understand the level of current recreational provision, and identify any shortfalls that need to be addressed to meet the existing needs of the county."

“The necessity for the provision for a sports campus in Newbridge is massive,” said cllr Heavey.

“An indoor-outdoor sports hub is vital for the town,” he stressed.

Earlier at the meeting, cllr Heavey was nominated by colleagues unopposed to the board of Kildare Sports and Leisujre Facilities Ltd because of his close interest in the subject.

He wondered aloud when this survey would be completed, and what would then be the stages of implementation to achieve such a Hub for Newbridge.

Ms O’Brien told him the survey closes on Friday 25 October, and “it will identify what groups are out there”. Then she said it.

“We have gone very far down the line with community space in the town (Newbridge) and we will be about to announce this soon,” she concluded – cryptically.

After the meeting, cllr Heavy vowed to keep Ms O’Brien’s feet to the metaphorical fire.