Location of planned multi-million sports centre defended

The location of the planned Indoor Recreation and Outdoor Sports (iROS) Centre in Roscommon Town was defended at last week’s budget meeting of the council.

The planning process for the multi-million euro project will commence before 2026, with detailed design and construction, subject to planning approval and funding, expected to start in 2027.

Responding to suggestions by Cllr Tom Crosby that the €19.5 million facility should be located outside Roscommon Town, chief executive Shane Tiernan said that relocating the planned sports centre would result in doubling its costs, and would be “absolutely ludicrous”.

“It is not just for Roscommon Town,” he said. “That is the preferred location for such a centre, in a county town, where you have footfall, where you have transport links.” He said he could only recommend to councillors that the current proposed location is kept, adding that a million euro has already been allocated in contracts.

“It is the only sensible suggestion. It will be a fantastic amenity for the county, we will be a flagship county town,” he said, highlighting the parallel developments of the planned GAA Centre of Excellence and running track at Lisnamult.

Cllr Tony Ward said he agreed with the chief executive 100 per cent, saying that the centre was needed especially as Roscommon was going to be on the edge of the proposed ‘City of Athlone’.

“This project needs to be supported,” he said. He also highlighted the need for an athletics track in Roscommon Town, saying he is regularly contacted about this absence.

Regarding the proposed sports centre, Cllr Crosby said that €69 million of investments in various stages have been earmarked for the county town.

“What about Strokestown and other towns around the county?” he asked.

Cllr Sean Moylan said he “wholeheartedly” supported the iROS and its location. He said that in order to see a return in the investment, it needed to be in an urban area, adding that Roscommon Town was centrally located.

“This facility will be a huge step forward,” he said.

During the budget meeting, Cllr Crosby suggested that investment within the county needed to be more evenly distributed, saying that the county town had already received a significant investment. He suggested that the sports centre should be located in a different town, saying Strokestown would be ideal.

“It is important that we are seen to be serving the entire county,” he said.