Weld award in keeping with ethos of Canon Hayes

THE public acknowledgement of the contribution of Dermot Weld to Irish sport, at the annual Canon Hayes Sports Awards in Tipperary, was entirely appropriate.

His personal record is formidable in a sport that makes huge demands of the principals involved the horse trainers and jockeys. His background training as a veterinary surgeon must have helped along the way as he trained more than 2,800 winners, a record number, in a glittering career.

The award can also be interpreted as a tribute to the general excellence of the equine sports in this country. It is probably the sport where the Irish are most consistently ranked in the front-line, a belief that is further bolstered by Dermott Lennon's success in winning the World Championship in show-jumping.

The Canon Hayes awards and the sports centre that carries this name in Tipperary town are a huge success story in their own right. The story of the centre's development is an extraordinary tale of community generosity and dedication and a reflection of the on-going commitment of the people of Tipperary to its growth.

Above all, of course, it is a tribute to the foresight of the late Canon Hayes, the founder of Muintir na Tire. He was curate in Tipperary when he set aside 12 acres behind the Church for the use of the Tipperary community for recreational purposes.

Canon Hayes passed away in 1959 and it was in the late 1970's/early 1980's when the members of the Tipperary Town athletics' club provided the initial drive towards development of the site in the shape of a proper running track for training and competition.

Martin Quinn is Chairman of the Board of Management and he said: "A public meeting was called and a group came together that was representative of many sections of the community to spearhead the drive for funds to finance the development.of a sports complex."

Martin estimates that investment to date amounts comfortably to more than 2m and most of that money has been raised by the local community. They have just received planning permission for further development incorporating a hydrotherapy pool, new dressing-rooms, aerobics studio and new reception and office area.

The fresh investment will amount to €500,000 in total. Already they have raised €150,000 towards that and with the promise of €200,000 in grant aid from the Department of Sport the balance will be accumulated in double quick time.

"The generosity of the people knows no bounds" said Martin. "We draw our support from a radius of 20 miles around Tipperary town and people are supportive because they recognise the need for a facility of the quality of the Canon Hayes centre and they know how popular it is."

The centre includes a general purposes hall that covers 600 sq.m. and a state-of-the-art gymnasium that has been extended twice in the last twelve months. The most recent extension stemmed from an investment of €80,000 and included new gym machines in the form of weights and cardiovascular equipment.

The centre employs on a full-time basis a physical therapist and a beauty salon therapist as well as a manager, a sports and marketing manager, reception staff and office and administrative staff. Use is made of the Fás scheme as well for maintenance staff.

The work of running the Centre is invested in a board of management consisting of 15 people. Nobody can serve for more than seven years and there is an annual change of personnel affecting at least a couple of persons so there is constant evolution.

The board is representative of all strands of society and the current group includes a company director, a media person, a farmer, a chemist etc. etc. and the regular influx of new personnel ensures there is always a fresh source of ideas and developments available to the group.

The centres offer regular users a membership facility for use of the gym but most visitors to the centre operate on a 'pay-for-play' basis.

All of the schools in the local catchment area make use of the facilities, particularly the all-weather floodlit pitches and a successful liaison with the adjoining council owned swimming pool means this facility is also available to users of the centre.

The centre is open every day of the week and is used by an average of 3,000 customers per week. The customer base is in Tipperary, of course, East Limerick and North Cork.

"The success of the centre is firmly rooted in the Canon Hayes ethos of people doing things for themselves" said Martin Quinn, whose presentation of the awards ceremony at Aherlow House Hotel was so impressive.