€16.4 Million Grant Awarded For New Sligo Showgrounds Stadium
The development will increase the seated capacity of the Showgrounds to 6,129 and entails major modernization of stadium facilities. This will include a new grass based hybrid pitch, which will accommodate other sports and activities, new stands on the Church Hill and Jinks’ Avenue ends, upgrades to the Treacy Avenue and Railway end stands, new hospitality areas, fan zones, meeting rooms, gymnasium, club merchandise shop, media area and a new club museum.
New visiting supporter seating will be provided in the Jinks Avenue stand with associated food and beverage facilities. The new stadium will also meet the requirements for modern TV broadcasts.
Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins said “This is a momentous day for everyone in Sligo and an exciting one for our Sligo Rovers fanbase in Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Donegal, Roscommon and indeed throughout Ireland. We have experienced nothing but full cooperation and encouragement from our own community, our local authority, local TD’s and Senior Government Ministers, and for this we are very grateful.
“Due primarily to the efforts of our late colleague Tommie Gorman, we were able to present detailed briefings in the Showgrounds to Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tanaiste Micheal Martin, Ministers Catherine Martin, Heather Humphreys and Thomas Byrne. We also briefed Minister for Finance Jack Chambers.
“We especially thank Minister Catherine Martin for her sustained and supportive interest in our project and whose Department prioritised our application and recommended the grant award.
“We are deeply appreciative of the contribution made by Frank Feighan, TD, in particular his practical advice and guidance, and his representations on our behalf, as we pursue the significant investment we need to make our stadium development plan a reality.
“We would like to thank the FAI for its national ranking and valued support, especially Mark Scanlon, Walter Holloran, FAI adviser Tim Tuomey and the FAI Board, who all took a deep interest in our project. Another valuable contributor is Special Olympics Ireland, who awarded us a national ranking and we thank Myra Merrick for her assistance and support. Sligo County Council agreed to act as the project sponsor and awarded the project local priority ranking – we particularly acknowledge the help given by Martin Lydon, Chief Executive and Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services.”
Sligo Rovers Development Officer Mark Cummins acknowledged the contribution of the many individuals and agencies involved in the project. “We had an exceptional support team in place at every stage of the very detailed application process, Design Team lead Gavin Phelan of Rhatigan’s Architects, Enda Candon of First Western Consultants, and within the Club, Shona Heffernan and Jamie Murphy. Tom Kelly on our Project Team coordinated all the various elements of the detailed submission with great professionalism.
“We have an excellent working relationship with Chair Albert Higgins and the Showgrounds Trustee Board, they have a hugely important remit in preserving the Showgrounds as a sporting and community facility, sharing our conviction that this development will be a major boost for the Club and the people of Sligo and the north‑west.”
Images Credit: Silgo Rovers Football Club.
