National_Sports_Campus
The National Sports Campus (Irish: An Campas Náisiúnta Spórt)[1]- (sometimes known as Sports Campus Ireland, Sport Ireland Campus or Irish Sport HQ)[2] is a large site in the western suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, which contains a number of sporting facilities. It is operated by the National Sports Campus Development Authority and is home to a number of sports venues, including the National Indoor Arena, National Aquatic Centre, and National Horse Sport Arena.[3] Several national sports governing bodies, including the Gaelic Athletic Association, have sports facilities on the campus.[3][4] Other Irish sports governing bodies, such as the Football Association of Ireland and Sport Ireland, have their headquarters on the site.[5][6]
An Campas Náisiúnta Spórt | |
The National Aquatic Centre is one of several facilities within the National Sports Campus | |
| Address | Abbotstown, Blanchardstown, Dublin Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53.3965°N 6.368°W / 53.3965; -6.368 |
| Operator | National Sports Campus Development Authority |
| Type | Multi-sport campus |
| Acreage | 477 |
| Current use |
|
| Website | |
| sportirelandcampus.ie | |
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The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) was formally established on 1 January 2007 under the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006.[7] It was formed as a public body in Ireland, responsible for the creation, development, operation and promotion of a National Sports Campus.
The authority also has responsibility for the operation of the National Aquatic Centre on the Blanchardstown site. Since May 2010. It discharges these responsibilities through its wholly owned subsidiary NSCDA (Operations) Ltd.[citation needed]
The National Sports Campus is in the Abbotstown area of Blanchardstown, in the western suburbs of Dublin. The 477 acre site is in the townland of Sheephill[8] near Abbotstown House. This area was formerly "mainly open farmland" and previously accommodated the Marine Institute, State Laboratory and a farm operated by the Department of Agriculture.[9]
The National Sports Campus Development Authority allocated a number of plots on the site to accommodate the headquarters of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Irish Institute of Sport (IIS) and the Irish Sport HQ. The latter is home to the administrative headquarters of 19 national governing bodies of sport in Ireland.[10] The FAI moved from its former headquarters on Merrion Square in Dublin city centre, to its new offices on the National Sports Campus, in late 2007.[6]
In October 2013, the NSCDA completed the development of high performance training facilities for athletes in a variety of sporting disciplines including modern pentathlon, fencing, pistol-shooting, and gymnastics. An equestrian centre, the National Horse Sport Arena, was also developed.[11]
In 2016, the Gaelic Athletic Association opened a National Games Development Centre within the confines of the National Sports Campus site. This facility includes several grass and artificial pitches, a pavilion with dressing rooms, a gym, and conference and dining facilities.[4]
The NSCDA has also allocated sites for potential future development in partnership with the governing organisations responsible for cycling, rugby and hockey.[12] For example, in March 2015, Fingal County Council gave planning permission for an indoor velodrome to be constructed as part of the National Sports Campus.[13] While the track was originally projected to be completed before the 2020 Summer Olympics, construction was delayed.[10][14] In September 2020, it was reported that representatives of Cycling Ireland were "hopeful" that the velodrome would be ready "in time for preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics".[15]
Sport Ireland announced development plans in November 2022, with a velodrome and cricket venues included.[16][17]
- "Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2016" (PDF). sportireland.ie. Sport Ireland. 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- Wall, Philip (11 January 2015). "About Canoeing Ireland". Canoe.ie.
- "Sport Ireland Campus - Facilities". sportirelandcampus.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "We had a look around the GAA's new €12 million facility in Abbotstown today". the42.ie. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "Contact Us - Sport Ireland Institute, National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, Dublin 15". sportireland.ie. Sport Ireland. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "FAI Headquarters - National Sports Campus, Abbotstown". fai.ie. FAI. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
In November 2007 the Football Association of Ireland moved to its new headquarters at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown after over half-a-century in 80 Merrion Square, Dublin
- "Number 19/2006: National Sports Campus Authority Act 2006". Oireachtas. 5 July 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- Placenames Database of Ireland - townland of Sheephill
- "Abbotstown Sports Campus Study" (PDF). fingal.ie. Fingal County Council. February 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- Watterson, Johnny. "Inside the Dream Factory: Behind the scenes at Sports Campus Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "National Horse Sport Arena". sportirelandcampus.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "Irish hockey's Tokyo 2020 preparations boosted by new €600,000 pitch". the42.ie. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "New state of the art Dublin velodrome has just taken huge step foward [sic]". Sticky Bottle. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- Stokes, Shane. "Velodrome project crucial to future success of Ireland's cyclists". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- "Cycling Ireland expect velodrome to be built in time for Paris 2024". rte.ie. RTÉ. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- Mallon, Ian (17 November 2022). "Velodrome first as masterplan for Irish sport unveiled, but costs unknown". Irish Examiner.