Lourdes Stadium
Encyclopedia
Lourdes Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
in Drogheda
, Ireland
. It is currently used mostly for soccer
matches and athletics
. Opened in 1961 and was the home stadium of Drogheda United
between 1962 and 1976. The stadium holds 4,000 (standing).
Although the stadium fell into disrepair in recent years, plans are well underway to develop it into a multi-sports facility. The initial phase of development involves the laying of a well-drained sand-based playing pitch and a 4-lane rubber/resin surface athletics training track.
Currently the stadium is overgrown and unused. All structures including the main stand, terraces, dressing rooms and tennis courts have been dismantled. In June 2009 Mayor of Drogheda Michael O'Dowd called for the area to be utilised as a sports facility for the area once again.
source-Drogheda Independent 23/06/10
Drogheda is to benefit from a donation of nearly €1M from Coca-Cola for sports and social infrastructure. The company has agreed to contribute €290,000 towards funding a new running track at the disused Lourdes Stadium. In addition to the new track,Drogheda Borough Council will be using additional sports capital grants funding from Government to provide additional sporting and recreational facilities, new changing rooms, parking and landscaping at the old stadium. The restored facility will be operated by a management committee to cater for all the athletic clubs in the town along with local schools and recreational users. Work will begin in the stadium shortly with a view to completion early next year.
Source Drogheda Independent
Wednesday August 03 2011
WORK is set to get underway on the € 1m redevelopment of the Lourdes Stadium with the initial phase of the project expected to be completed by year end.
Contracts were signed last week and the council has engaged Clive Richardson Ltd of Portadown, Co Armagh to complete the project which is being part-funded by the local authority along with the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport.
Coca-Cola International Services will also donate € 290,000 to the project.
The Stadium is the famed former home to League of Ireland soccer in the town and was opened 50 years ago. It has also hosted major athletics meetings in the past.
However, it fell into disrepair and the old stand, which once echoed to a generation of sports fans, had long since been pulled down.
Its rebirth will include a new athletic track and arena for field games as well as new club rooms, dressing rooms, carparking and related site works.
'We owe sincere thanks to the funders of the project given the prevailing economic circumstances. In addition, the trustees of the Lourdes Athletic Club and St Peter's Parish have facilitated this work in getting underway.
'I also want to acknowledge the vision shown by my predecessors as Mayor - Cllrs Michael O'Dowd and Paul Bell - who championed this project over the last two years,' stated Mayor Kevin Callan.
'In some respects, Lourdes Stadium had become a lost treasure in Drogheda at a time when we need every possible amenity available to the people of the town and especially our young people. I am particularly pleased to see the work commence given the central site that the facility
The restored facility will be operated by a management committee to cater for all the athletic clubs in the town along with local schools and recreational users.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is currently used mostly for soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
. Opened in 1961 and was the home stadium of Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
between 1962 and 1976. The stadium holds 4,000 (standing).
Although the stadium fell into disrepair in recent years, plans are well underway to develop it into a multi-sports facility. The initial phase of development involves the laying of a well-drained sand-based playing pitch and a 4-lane rubber/resin surface athletics training track.
Currently the stadium is overgrown and unused. All structures including the main stand, terraces, dressing rooms and tennis courts have been dismantled. In June 2009 Mayor of Drogheda Michael O'Dowd called for the area to be utilised as a sports facility for the area once again.
source-Drogheda Independent 23/06/10
Drogheda is to benefit from a donation of nearly €1M from Coca-Cola for sports and social infrastructure. The company has agreed to contribute €290,000 towards funding a new running track at the disused Lourdes Stadium. In addition to the new track,Drogheda Borough Council will be using additional sports capital grants funding from Government to provide additional sporting and recreational facilities, new changing rooms, parking and landscaping at the old stadium. The restored facility will be operated by a management committee to cater for all the athletic clubs in the town along with local schools and recreational users. Work will begin in the stadium shortly with a view to completion early next year.
Source Drogheda Independent
Wednesday August 03 2011
WORK is set to get underway on the € 1m redevelopment of the Lourdes Stadium with the initial phase of the project expected to be completed by year end.
Contracts were signed last week and the council has engaged Clive Richardson Ltd of Portadown, Co Armagh to complete the project which is being part-funded by the local authority along with the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport.
Coca-Cola International Services will also donate € 290,000 to the project.
The Stadium is the famed former home to League of Ireland soccer in the town and was opened 50 years ago. It has also hosted major athletics meetings in the past.
However, it fell into disrepair and the old stand, which once echoed to a generation of sports fans, had long since been pulled down.
Its rebirth will include a new athletic track and arena for field games as well as new club rooms, dressing rooms, carparking and related site works.
'We owe sincere thanks to the funders of the project given the prevailing economic circumstances. In addition, the trustees of the Lourdes Athletic Club and St Peter's Parish have facilitated this work in getting underway.
'I also want to acknowledge the vision shown by my predecessors as Mayor - Cllrs Michael O'Dowd and Paul Bell - who championed this project over the last two years,' stated Mayor Kevin Callan.
'In some respects, Lourdes Stadium had become a lost treasure in Drogheda at a time when we need every possible amenity available to the people of the town and especially our young people. I am particularly pleased to see the work commence given the central site that the facility
The restored facility will be operated by a management committee to cater for all the athletic clubs in the town along with local schools and recreational users.