24/06/2005

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Mayor Dowds will officially open the new Corkagh Park Pavilion on the 27^th June 2005 at 3.30 p.m.

The development of changing rooms adjacent to the St John’s entrance to Corkagh Park was approved by the elected members of South Dublin County Council, at its meeting held on the 18th June 2001.

The impetus for the project came from a partnership between South Dublin County Council and the MAAN Group, formed as a collaboration of four local soccer clubs Monastery Celtic, Alpine Express, Ashwood F.C. and Newlands Celtic.

National Lottery Funding was secured for the completion of Phase 1 of the project.  In addition further direct funding was provided by the County Council itself, the Dormant Accounts Fund , the Young Persons facilities and Services Fund and the I.A.P. Community Linkage Fund.  This has enabled the building to be completed on a phased basis.

The completion of this important project will be of major benefit to the membership of the four clubs concerned and to the wider community. The four clubs combined currently have 15 teams catering for a total of 300 soccer players and it is hoped that increased numbers will be attracted to the clubs due to the availability of the improved facilities.  The development has also allowed the County Council to remove a number of steel containers from Corkagh Park, which up to now were used by the clubs for temporary dressing room accommodation.

The upgraded facilities include 8 no. purpose built changing rooms with 26 shower units, referees room, store room and ladies, gents/disabled toilets. The building was designed to blend in with the existing Gate Lodge and the wooded character of the site and is located within easy reach of the nearby playing pitches and car-parking facilities.  It has a mono-pitch roof design with glass block windows to the rear to maximise the use of natural light inside the building.  The perimeter railing, which is designed as an integral part of the building fabric provides an important aesthetic and security function.  An interesting feature of the building is the planted Sedum Roof which adds another element of sustainability to the building design which is considered very appropriate for a parkland location.

The changing rooms are entered from the forecourt at the front of building and are arranged in a simple layout ensuring ease of access and use. The building construction is concrete  block and internally each changing room has a tiled shower area and birch ply benches and ceilings to the changing area.  Services for the building are arranged centrally, designed to be economic and easily maintained.