Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex

Infobox Swimming venue
name=Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex


imagesize= 400px
caption=
fullname=
nicknames=
city=Letterkenny, Ireland
capacity= 2500
built=2002-2007
opened=July 19 2007
closed=
demolished=
architects= Holohan Architects
home clubs=
poolnames=
length= 25 metres
width=
deep=
lanes= 6|

Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex is a sports complex located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. The complex is located near O' Donnell Park and the total cost of the building of the complex was €22.7 million. An open day for the complex was held on May 18 and 19 2007 and the complex opened to the public on Monday 9 July, 2007.

Building of the Complex

Construction of the building began in 2002. The complex was meant to be finished construction in January 2007 but was not completed until four months later.

Facilities

The Aura Management Company are operators of the new centre. The complex includes the following facilities:

* 25m 6 lane swimming pool
* Gym
* 2500 seater Sports hall
* Soccer pitch
* Children’s play area
* Skate park

The sports complex caters for the following activities:
* Indoor soccer
* Badminton
* Basketball
* Volley Ball
* Aerobics
* Athletics
* Swimming
* Gymnastics

Controversy

*The opening of the new leisure complex led to much controversy as many local councillors believed the old leisure centre located on the High Road should be closed to facilitate for the building of a new courthouse. Local residents and businessmen thought differently and staged protests against the closing of the centre. A decision was made, by local councillors, on May 14 2007 to close the old leisure centre with the deciding vote coming from Cllr. Ciaran Brogan.

*On October 19 2007 management of the leisure centre confirmed the pool and health suite at the facility was to close temporarily with immediate effect due to work being carried out to correct tiles around the pool, which were deemed to be to slippy. The centre re-opened on a week later. [ [http://www.highlandradio.com/news.php?articleid=000001119 Slippery Tiles] ]

Criticism

The seating arrangements of the theatre area was criticised by many Riverdance attendants who complained that they could not see the show.

Shows

2007

May

*Riverdance performed in the Sports Complex on May 24 and 25 2007 [Blake, Damien. " [http://www.damienblake.com/2007/02/riverdance-for-letterkenny/ Riverdance for Letterkenny] "damienblake.com", 2007-02-06. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.] , and marked the official opening of the centre. Around 12,000 people attended. [Cook, Catherine " [http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/308458290587139.php Almost 12,000 to attend Riverdance shows in Letterkenny] "The Donegal News", 2007-05-18 Retrieved on 2007-05-19.] Due to the success of these performances Riverdance is to return to the complex, for five shows from Thursday 22nd through to Sunday 25th May 2008. [ [http://www.highlandradio.com/news.php?articleid=000001387Riverdance to Return] ]

July

* Daniel O'Donnell kicked off his Irish summer tour with a show at the Complex on July 14 2007. He was be joined by his touring partner Mary Duff. The concert was filmed as a Daniel television special and also his forthcoming DVD. [Donal K. " [http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/304749498578910.php Daniel in Letterkenny] "The Ulster Herald", 2007-05-10 Retrieved on 2007-05-19.]

December

* RTE's Tubridy Tonight broadcast from the complex on December 15 2007 for his annual Christmas show. Tickets for the show were on huge demand. Tubridy said of his travel North-West, “"It’s been years since I’ve been in Donegal for RTÉ and I’m really looking forward to going back."” [ [http://www.derryjournal.com/derry-fillers/Huge-demand-for-39Letterkenny39-Tubridy.3540638.jp Tubridy in Demand] ] Guests on the show were supermodel Janice Dickinson, Derry boxer John Duddy, Italia 90 trio Packie Bonner, Andy Townsend and John Aldridge and "The X Factor" winner Shane Ward. Music on the night was provided by Phil Coulter, Paul Brady and Eleanor McEvoy who sang Fairytale of New York. [ [http://www.rteguide.ie/2007/1214/tubridytonight.html Tubridy Guests] ] [ [http://www.carrickonline.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=766&Itemid=112 Tubridy Guests] ]

2008

March

*"Hunky Dorys Fight Night" came to the complex on March 29 2008. [ [http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2008/03/29/story58997.asp McCloskey ready to take the next step, Irish Examiner, 29 March 2008] ] Undefeated Paul McCloskey took on former World Champion Cesar Bazan. McCloskey beat Bezan over 10 rounds by 100 to 90 points. The first bout was at 6.30pm and McCloskey came into the ring at 9.30pm. The match was broadcast on RTÉ. [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/0330/mccloskey.html RTÉ: McCloskey picks up points victory] ] [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/0327/mccloskey.html Pro-Box Live RTÉ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/7319198.stm BBC Sport: McCloskey too powerful for Bazan] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.auraleisurecentres.ie/locations/aura-letterkenny.html Aura Letterkenny]
* [http://www.letterkenny.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=213&category_name=Leisure+Complex Letterkenny Town Council]
* [http://www.damienblake.com/2006/05/letterkenny-sports-complex-update/ Damian Blake's View]