Sonia O'Sullivan: 'We are still very short on tracks in Cork'

O'Sullivan believes an opportunity was missed by not developing athlete accommodation at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown

Sonia O'Sullivan: 'In Cork city, the tracks are good, but the problem is there's more people using the tracks now.' Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

The balcony on which Sonia O’Sullivan is standing looks out over the crown of a final bend from where she launched many a trademark kick. The final bend she is looking reminiscently out at is back in use.

O’Sullivan was home in Cork on Friday afternoon to officially reopen the UCC track, carrying her name, which spent the better part of 20 months under lock and key to allow for a complete mondo-surface relaying.

At a time when Athletics Ireland holds a record membership of 78,000, a figure that’s quadrupled in the last 20 years, the reopening of the Sonia O’Sullivan Mardyke track is most welcome and most timely.

The reopening, though, once again brings into focus the facilities available to adequately serve this booming membership, or not serve, as is too often the case in Cork.

The reopening of the Sonia O’Sullivan track, along with the Bandon track opening earlier this year, brings to three the number of full-sized running tracks across Cork city and county.

Added to those, there’s also a 300m track at Kinsale Community School and a 250m track at Clondrohid, some 40 minutes west of the city.

But as Sonia correctly points out, there isn’t a single track east of the city. And it certainly isn’t a case that the demand is not there, what with East Cork Athletic Club home to approximately 2,150 members.

“We are still very short on tracks in Cork,” says the Olympic, World, and European medallist.

“In East Cork, there's very little down there. If you're going east from the city, you've got to go all the way to Waterford to get to a track, so that’s a bit of a hike.

“We're working hard down there with a group, the Cork East Athletic Sports Group, and they're raising funds and looking for a site to build a track for the East Cork community.

Sonia O'Sullivan at the reopening of the UCC Mardyke track

“In Cork city, the tracks are good, but the problem is there's more people using the tracks now. When I was training and competing, there were less people using them, but there's a huge demand at the moment for tracks and particularly for all-weather facilities year-round so that people can be out there training, keeping fit, and ultimately pushing the better athletes to be even better.

“It's great to see the Mardyke track back at its best, looking its best, and I'm sure it's very much appreciated by so many of the clubs in the Cork area. It was certainly missed when it was out of action.” 

Moving up the road to Dublin and in an interview with the Irish Examiner following August’s European Championships, Athletics Ireland High Performance Director Paul McNamara stated his belief that the home-based supports available to the Irish track and field elite are the “best in the world”.

McNamara added that both Athletics Ireland and the Sport Ireland Institute need to be louder and more assertive in selling to Irish athletes the “world-class environment” available on their doorstep. More “glamorous” environments may be available elsewhere, but for “backup and medical wraparound” support, Ireland is a global leader.

O’Sullivan is in agreement with McNamara regarding the quality of background support on offer in Abbotstown but feels a large trick was missed by not developing athlete accommodation when the Sports Campus was enlarged in recent years.

“It's very expensive to live in Dublin, so I suppose if you have a house and somewhere to live, then it's viable [to base yourself there],” she continued.

“When athletes get to a certain level, they have to look at all their options. You have to find something that works well for you, that you can afford, and that can help you to be a better athlete.

“Abbotstown is a great facility and a great area where there's a lot of amenities for our high-level athletes, but the one thing that's not there is somewhere where they can go and stay. That's probably one mistake that has been made is that there's plenty of old buildings out there that could have been converted into accommodation and housing but that was never planned for.” 

Following Ireland’s most successful ever Europeans, Sonia is understandably excited to see what medallists Mark English, Kate O’Connor, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Andrew Coscoran can produce during a 2027 season which will conclude with the Worlds in Beijing.

“The athletes that made finals in Birmingham, that just gives them the belief that they can be there again. To be there on the world stage is harder, but they'll definitely believe they can do that. And you always want to be a step better the following year, so hopefully they'll be closer to the World Championship level in 2027.”