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Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex

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Coordinates: 54°56′44″N 7°45′05″W / 54.945484°N 7.751369°W / 54.945484; -7.751369
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Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex
Building information
CityLetterkenny, Ireland
Capacity2500
Built2002 - 2007
Opened19 July 2007
Architect(s)Holohan Architects
Pool
Length25 metres
Lanes6

Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex is a sports complex located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. The complex is located near O'Donnell Park and the total cost of the building of the complex was €22.7 million. An open day for the complex was held on 18 and 19 May 2007, with the complex opened to the public on Monday 9 July 2007. RTÉ Television has broadcast live from the venue on several occasions.

Building of the Complex

Construction of the building began in 2002. The complex was meant to be finished construction in January 2007 but was not completed until four months later.

Facilities

The complex

The Aura Management Company are operators of the new centre. The complex includes the following facilities:

The sports complex caters for the following activities:

  • Indoor soccer
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Volley Ball
  • Aerobics
  • Athletics
  • Swimming
  • Gymnastics

Controversies

The opening of the new leisure complex led to much controversy as many local councillors believed the old leisure centre located on the High Road should be closed to facilitate for the building of a new courthouse. Local residents and businessmen thought differently, and staged protests against the closing of the centre. A decision was made, by local councillors, on 14 May 2007 to close the old leisure centre with the deciding vote coming from Cllr. Ciaran Brogan.

On 19 October 2007 management of the leisure centre confirmed the pool and health suite at the facility was to close temporarily with immediate effect due to work being carried out to correct tiles around the pool, which were deemed to be to slippery. The centre re-opened on a week later.[1]

Criticism

The seating arrangements of the theatre area was criticised by many Riverdance attendants who complained that they could not see the show.

Shows

2007

May

  • Riverdance performed in the Sports Complex on 24 and 25 May 2007,[2] and marked the official opening of the centre. Around 12,000 people attended.[3] Due to the success of these performances Riverdance is to return to the complex, for five shows from Thursday 22nd through to Sunday 25 May 2008.[4]

July

  • Daniel O'Donnell kicked off his Irish summer tour with a show at the Complex on 14 July 2007. He was joined by his touring partner Mary Duff. The concert was filmed as a Daniel television special and also his forthcoming DVD.[5]

December

2008

March

  • Hunky Dorys Fight Night came to the complex on 29 March 2008.[9] Undefeated Paul McCloskey took on former World Champion Cesar Bazan. McCloskey beat Bezan over 10 rounds by 100 to 90 points. The first bout was at 6.30pm and McCloskey came into the ring at 9.30pm. The match was broadcast on RTÉ.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ Slippery Tiles
  2. ^ Blake, Damien. "Riverdance for Letterkenny"damienblake.com, 2007-02-06. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
  3. ^ Cook, Catherine "Almost 12,000 to attend Riverdance shows in Letterkenny"The Donegal News, 2007-05-18 Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  4. ^ to Return
  5. ^ Donal K. "Daniel in Letterkenny"The Ulster Herald, 2007-05-10 Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  6. ^ Tubridy in Demand
  7. ^ Tubridy Guests
  8. ^ Tubridy Guests
  9. ^ "McCloskey ready to take the next step", Irish Examiner, 29 March 2008.
  10. ^ RTÉ: McCloskey picks up points victory
  11. ^ Pro-Box Live RTÉ
  12. ^ BBC Sport: McCloskey too powerful for Bazan

54°56′44″N 7°45′05″W / 54.945484°N 7.751369°W / 54.945484; -7.751369

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