Council moves on getting land for Portmarnock Sports Hub

Fingal County Council is moving to “take in charge” an area of open space to the south-east of Malahide and north of Portmarnock, a move that would pave the way for the construction of a long-awaited sports hub. 

At Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s Howth/Malahide Area Committee, Fianna Fáil Councillor Cathal Haughey brought a motion asking for an update on progress on the proposed Portmarnock Sports Hub.

The idea is for four of the area sports clubs – Portmarnock Athletic Club, Portmarnock AFC, Portmarnock Triathlon Club and Naomh Mearnóg GAA club – to share the facilities. 

Kevin Halpenny, senior parks superintendent, said in a written response that the council is looking to take in charge lands at a development at Jameson Orchard for this. 

All outstanding legal matters have been addressed to the satisfaction of the council, he said.  

The developer had requested a slight revision to the plans, which the council accommodated in order to keep things progressing, said Halpenny in his response to Haughey’s motion.

They’re now waiting for the developer to approve the new plans, he said. “All the other legal documentation is in place, so we're just awaiting that confirmation to progress the taking-in-charge.”

Haughey, who also chairs the committee, welcomed the council’s getting on board with the idea. 

Portmarnock has a growing population, with lots of houses built in south Portmarnock, and more planned, he said.

“It's great to see cooperation between four clubs,” he said, as “the sharing of facilities is the way forward.”

The road to here

It’s been a long-running saga, said Fianna Fáil Councillor Eoghan O'Brien.

He hopes this new update is the last time that any councillor has to request an update on the project, as it’s been hanging over them for so long now, he said. “We'll take the positive news.”

He offered his thanks to the four clubs involved for their patience, adding that the growing population is well documented.

“The clubs there in Portmarnock cater to a massive number of the local children, but also a lot of adult members as well. So, the work that they're doing fully deserves the council's support in whatever way we can,” O’Brien said.

Joan Hopkins, of the Social Democrats, said that she is “naturally optimistic” when she sees this kind of news, and tends to celebrate too early, before things often face lengthy delays.

She said she is hopeful that that won’t be the case in this instance.

The entire country needs a monumental shift in terms of how it funds sport facilities, she said.

It’s important to remember that sport pays for itself, she said, considering the impact it has on well-being and health as well as offering “healthy diversions” to kids.

“If we don't invest in this, we pay for it in other ways, be it ill-health or anti-social behaviour or anything like that,” she said.

Hopkins also commended the four clubs –  all volunteer-run, she said – for coming together instead of competing with each other for facilities.

“When Fingal are providing facilities, it has to be a shared facility. That's the way forward. So, great to see this,” she said.

Halpenny, from the council's parks department, agreed that the four clubs coming together was very advantageous. “It’s in line with the council’s hub model that we have pioneered over the last number of years”

He agreed with O’Brien’s description of the project so far as a saga. “I'm a veteran of that saga, and I'm hoping that it will come to a conclusion in the very near future.”

The council’s property section was also to be commended, said O’Brien, for responding to “any and all queries and requests in relation to this issue”.

And what else?

Haughey’s motion also asked if there were plans for another, separate sports hub on the other side of Portmarnock, near Drumnigh Road.

Hopkins admitted she might have bought into some rumours and speculation about this second hub herself. 

“Is there anything in the pipeline on the other end? Near the Belmayne end?” she asked Halpenny.

There were currently no such plans for a second sports hub in the area, he said.

During October’s meeting of Dublin City Council’s North Central Area Committee, a new planned sports hub was mentioned near Belmayne, within Fingal County Council’s territory.

Councillors were presented with an update on the planned developments in and around Belmayne, Parkside, and Clongriffin.

“Plans are being advanced with Fingal County Council on the development of a joint sports hub at St Doolagh's, Balgriffin,” wrote Bruce Phillips, area manager with Dublin City Council.

“The lands are located on the ‘green belt’ within Fingal County Council. Initial discussions have taken place with Fingal regarding the planning, design and operation of the sports hub,” his update said.

Dublin City Council hopes to have a Memorandum of Understanding signed over the next month, he said, setting out a roadmap for the project over the coming year.

“Once signed, our plan is to commence site assessments and surveys and to have an initial layout in one year,” it said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.