Call for multi-purpose sports facility on land adjacent to River Boyne

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A predicted “massive surge in population” north of Drogheda has led to calls for an increase in sporting and recreational facilities.

With thousands of new homes in the pipeline for the area, a shared vision for a multi-sport community facility on publicly owned lands at Mell in Drogheda emerged this week.

Councillors at the November meeting of Drogheda Borough District heard ambitious proposals to develop a recreational base at the green space adjacent to the Boyne River.

Councillors Pio Smith and Paddy McQuillan submitted a joint motion asking Louth County Council to consider developing the public lands into “a community sporting facility that would allow a number of soccer clubs from Drogheda, as well as schools in Mell to share the grounds.”

The facility could also cater for “a range of alternative recreational options.”

The councillors proposed that a portion of the building levies from the significant number of houses being built in the area would be allocated to the project.

Cllr. Smith told the meeting “there are literally a couple of thousand houses being built beyond the Retail Park and the old Slane Road, but there is a real deficit in sports and recreation facilities in this area.”

He said the land at Mell “would be ideal” for a facility that could incorporate a wide range of sports including basketball and rugby.

Cllr. McQuillan added: "This whole area is begging to developed. It is about investing in the future, and will show that Louth County Council are proactive, because we know there is going to be massive surge in population, so we are not going to be reactionary, we could have everything in place.”

He welcomed the wider sports plan being developed by Louth County Council, saying “this area really could become the centre for outdoor activities and recreation.”

Cllr. Declan Power said he “fully supported the motion as there is clearly a big gap in sporting and recreation facilities in Drogheda and right across the county.”

He added that the green space at Mell would be a great opportunity to respond to local need, and create shared facilities for a range of activities.

Cllr. Power highlighted the local calls for a cricket pitch in town.

"We also seriously lack flood-lit facilities, if it is not daylight the facilities can’t be used, so it would be great if this could be incorporated into the plan for Mell.”

Cllr. Ejiro O’Hare Stratton agreed, adding that the Indian community in Drogheda had been continually calling for a facility to play and develop participation in the sport locally.

In a written response from Director of Service Joanna Kelly, Louth County Council said it is currently in the process of developing a Local Sport Plan, which will address the need for sporting facilities and alternative recreational options across the county.

"This plan will guide future decisions on projects such as the proposed development at Mell,” said Ms.Kelly.