Munster Technological University sees reopening of international-standard athletics track
Representatives of MTU and the MTU Students' Union joined the minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne and Athletics Ireland CEO Hamish Adams for the reopening of the athletics track at the MTU Arena. Picture: Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus
The reopening of the resurfaced athletics track at Munster Technological University (MTU) should help inspire a new generation of Irish Olympians, the minister of state for sport, Thomas Byrne, has said.
Mr Byrne made the comments as he was joined by guests, including Irish sprint legend Phil Healy, at the running track's reopening ceremony at the MTU Arena in Bishopstown, Cork.
The regeneration of the eight-lane track as an international-standard facility was completed just in time for it to host the 70th Cork City Sports event on Tuesday night.
The 1979-built track, the indoor facilities under the stand, and the infield events area in the centre of the track, were all closed earlier this year for the complete reconstruction project which was funded through the Department of Sport’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund.
The track's old surface was removed, and its substructure was dug up and completely replaced as part of a larger multi-million three-phase project which involved the completion last year of the new MTU Sports Arena alongside the track — phase one of the wider investment.
The track project marked the completion of phase two, with phase three expected to see the development of a high-performance indoor athletics training centre, which will involve an estimated 5,000sq m expansion of the MTU Arena.
The arena sits as part of MTU's athletic stadium which has a seating capacity for more than 1,080 spectators.
The infield area will cater for all disciplines such as pole vault, high jump, long jump, javelin, shot put, discus, and hammer.
Mr Byrne said: “The opening also arrives at an ideal time for all fans of athletics in Ireland, following Ireland’s historic performance at the recent European Athletics Championships in Rome, and with the Olympics and Paralympics games just around the corner, they will no doubt inspire more people to use facilities such as this."
The track reopening was carried out in partnership with Athletics Ireland, whose CEO, Hamish Adams, said athletes across Munster and beyond will be overjoyed to see the MTU track reopen.
“The region has been lacking a high-quality athletics facility for some time now, so this state-of-the-art running track will be indispensable to them,” he said.
MTU president Professor Maggie Cusack said that after bad weather delayed the project for some time last summer, it was great to finally see the track ready.
“It’s wonderful to see the track reopen for the benefit of everyone from local sports clubs to athletes preparing for the Paris Olympics,” she said.
Meanwhile, UCC’s athletics track at the Mardyke, the Sonia O'Sullivan running track, remains closed pending repairs to its surface.
It was closed earlier this year due to health and safety concerns.
Mr Adams was told in March that contractors were due to assess the track for potential temporary fixes, but it is understood that was ruled out and a full track replacement is required.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
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