Twirls of delight as skate park opens

LIMERICK’S skateboard enthusiasts did twirls of delight yesterday in a new €300,000 skate park, which was opened by mayor John Gilligan.

Many parents also came to see their sons and daughters enjoy the new park which is sited near Shannon bridge.

Don O’Sullivan, an engineer who has moved back to Limerick with his family from the US, said the park was a fantastic addition to recreation facilities for young people in the city.

His son Donal, a student at the University of Limerick, was among those who pressed the city council to provide a skate park.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “This park will keep many kids off the street. The health authorities want young people out in the fresh air, exercising. Young people who skateboard are not into drugs or booze as they look after themselves, engaging in a very healthy activity.”

Skateboarder John O’Connor, 15, from Meelick, said some people had the wrong impression of them as they were up to now forced to hang around street corners to skate.

He said: “We were being moved on every day from different places.

“It was like not having soccer pitches and forcing young footballers to play on the road. It was very frustrating. This new park we now have is brilliant. We don’t have to hang around the streets to skate board anymore.”

Opening the park, Mr Gilligan said the new skate park was an investment in the future of the city, an investment in young people and in sport.

He said: “Enjoy it in health and happiness.”