New multi sport facility for Kinvara Hockey
Cronin Architects are delighted to have assisted Kinvara Hockey in acquiring a site & establishing planning consent for their new multi-sport facility in Kinvara, County Galway
Phase 1 of the project provides for new multi-sport playing pitches & related facilities on the outskirts of the village of Kinvara which adjoin existing residential, sports & community amenities
Sustainability credentials include the prioritizing of pedestrian & cycle access to the site through provision of quality pedestrian/cycle paths, covered bike parking, club mobility management plan on climate action & travel, the provision of smart LED low energy/high efficiency floodlighting, the promotion of biodiversity throughout the site via provision of pollinator friendly wild flower planted area, extensive native tree planting & biodiversity trail through the site, permeable parking & hardscaped area’s to minimize storm water collection and the provision of electric car charging points. The planning process for the project involved extensive assessments for Flood risk, Archaeology Impact, Ecology Impact, Traffic & Transport and Road safety assessments
Kinvara Hockey club was established over 40 years ago and has grown from 20 youth players in 2010 to over 220 but where a lack of facilities has been a key issue for the club since its origins and having also lost the use of a local rental pitch in more recent years. With only one over-subscribed full-size hockey pitch in the Galway region (at a distance of 35km), the club regularly travels to Athlone (90km away) for pitch facilities!
This multisport facility will support the rapidly growing demand for hockey in the area. This includes the notable work the club are doing for promotion of Women in Sport and the growing numbers of girls from south Galway and north Clare wanting to play this Olympic sport and will also in time allow the club to extend hockey training for boys and their Hockey4All programme
The project is strongly supported by both Connacht Hockey and Hockey Ireland as well as other sports & community organisations, where the project will allow the club to grow and serve the community while also providing scope for future sports phases
