Louth County Council to examine proposals for new sports centre in north Drogheda

The ground-breaking success of boxing champion Katie Taylor is proof of the “power of sport” according to a Drogheda councillor who backed calls for a new sports complex for the town.

The growing need for more sports facilities was highlighted at the September meeting of Drogheda Borough Council where Cllr Pio Smith brought forward a motion asking the council consider the development of a ‘multi-use sports complex’ in the town.

He told the meeting the project could be funded through the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.

The motion was seconded by Mayor Declan Power.

In response, Joanna Kelly, Director of Services at Louth County Council confirmed the Northern Environ Masterplan for Drogheda identifies an area for a sports centre.

She said the council would “examine the possibility of developing such a centre, including on a phased basis, and will examine the eligibility of seeking funding under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund when it opens, having particular regard to the timeline for such an application.”

Cllr. Smith welcomed the response, saying that an application could be made once the fund is available.

Cllr Eric Donovan backed the motion, saying he has been a lifelong advocate of “the power of sport,” and in particular the benefits it can bring to young people.

“Multiple choices or multiple sports to choose from would be a really, really good investment here.”

He added that there is a “huge population now in Drogheda” and while GAA clubs and other sports such as boxing provide vital activities, there was “huge potential” in giving people a wider range of options.

“We saw it recently with Katie Taylor’s fight, she took up the sport when female boxing didn’t even exist. But she had a dream, and she made it as an Olympic champion and professional boxer.”

Drogheda’s own Deirdre Gogarty “had to leave the country” to develop her career in boxing, said Cllr Donovan.

“She was told that women’s boxing wasn’t a thing, and even if it was no-one would want to watch it.”

He added that the success of Katie Taylor in bringing a record 80,000 spectators to Croke Park to watch her final fight was an example of “what sport can do.”

“I really think we need more investment in sports facilities like this around Drogheda, so I support the motion one hundred per cent.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme