Duagh locals press on with sports centre
Members of the Duagh Sports and Leisure Complex Development Committee with representatives of North & East Kerry Development on the site overlooking the foundations of the proposed centre. Included are, front row: John Lyons, Building Contractor; Liz... Credit: Photo by John Reidy
Wednesday March 10 2010
THE future of Duagh's planned sports and leisure centre has suffered a 'huge' setback with the withdrawal of expected National Lottery funding, but organisers say local donations and Leader funding secured this week should see it through.
Despite the news of the National Lottery cut, the plan was brought one step closer fruition this week with the securing of €46,000 Leader funding for the project.
With no sports centre of its own as yet and an estimated €53,000 being lost to facilities elsewhere by the village each year, members of the Duagh Sports and Leisure Committee say their project represents a viable business and has the potential to become a major boost for the loca economy.
The committee is now struggling to make-up for expected National Lottery funding that will not now be forthcoming.
The centre, which will cost €860,000, is being built on a greenfield site in the heart of the village, with the foundations already laid. With €316,800 of the overall cost is expected to be raised from local donations, the recent securing of €46,000 in Leader funding brings the vision much closer, the committee now say.
"€53,000 is being spent outside of Duagh by locals every year, on the rent of halls, on sports and leisure centres, gyms, by basketball and so much else as we identified in our initial feasibility study," Chairperson Anne Scanlon told The Kerryman. "That sum would go far towards the operating costs of our centre if it were to be kept in Duagh and, on top of that, we will have the option of raising additional rental income through, for instance, bingo nights, school sports finals and so on."
It is envisaged that the centre will begin to secure revenue before completion, however: "While the overall final cost will be €860,000, we intend to get the hall open as soon as possible and begin to realise rental income as we push on with the other plans. Sadly, the loss of National Lottery funding we had expected makes things harder but we are thrilled with the response of the community, who have set up over 400 standing orders to date," she said.
The next phase will see a dual-tender process; for the erection of the steel structure and the building of the centre. A number of fund-raising events are scheduled for the next 12 months and the committee also asks any Duagh people living abroad who would like to donate to contact Ms Scanlon on (087) 6725979.
- DONAL NOLAN dnolan@kerryman.ie
