Chairperson Cuts the Sod for New Down Leisure Centre

Council Chair Cuts the Sod for New Down Leisure Centre

On Thursday 11 February 2016,  Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Mickey Ruane cut the sod at the site of the new £14.5mDown Leisure Centre which will replace the current facility which opened back in 1980. Cllr Ruane performed the ceremony in front of the Council’s Chief Executive, Liam Hannaway and Depty Chief Eddy Curtis along with representatives from main Contractor Felix O’Hare Ltd and Architects Kennedy Fitzgerald Associates.                         

During the Sod Cutting Cllr Ruane advised, “The new facility is to be constructed within the boundary of the existing Centre (Market Street, Downpatrick) and is expected to be open in the Autumn of 2017. The program and phasing of works is such that normal operation of the existing Centre will be maintained as far as practicable throughout the construction phase.

The facility includes: a 25 metre, six lane pool; a learning pool with movable floor; a  four court hall; Handball/Squash court with movable wall; multi-purpose rooms; spa facilities; and a state-of-the-art fitness suite with over 80 stations all contained within a 6000 square metre three storey building serviced by lifts.” 

Cllr Ruane concluded by saying, “Council is looking forward to entering this exciting project valued at over £14.5 million with the Main Contractor, Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd and the design team led by the architectural practice of Kennedy Fitzgerald Associates. An integral part of the project, once the new Centre has opened, will be the demolition of the existing Centre to make way for a purpose built car park comprising over 140 spaces. The total programme of works is due to take 27 months.”

Damian Gill Director at Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd said, “Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd are delighted to be appointed as Main Contractor by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to deliver the new Leisure facility in Downpatrick.

We look forward to spearheading this prestigious project, contributing to the local infrastructure and ultimately providing a key public facility to those in the locality and beyond.”

Norman Hutchinson from Kennedy Fitzgerald Associates said, ”Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects are excited to be involved in this prestigious project that will create a new civic gateway building to Downpatrick that will represents Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s vision of enhanced leisure facilities for the local community.”