Cathal Dennehy: They will come and run...once we build it

Ireland's Olympic successes threw a spotlight once again on the thorny topic of tracks and fields - and often the lack thereof.

REPEAT PERFORMANCE: Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (2nd L) on her way to winning the women’s 400m of the Silesia Diamond League meeting in Chorzow, from Salwa Eid Naser, and Natalia Kaczmarek. Rhasidat Adeleke (left) was fourth. Picture: Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images

BUILDING a field of dreams? It’s not so much a marathon or a sprint, but an exhausting transcontinental run, forcing you to navigate a frustrating maze of red tape and requiring undying levels of resilience to reach the finish.

It’s not just a case of build it and they will come. It’s more a case of coming at the project with consistency, passion, and a willingness to lobby, fund-raise, and persuade the hell out of politicians.