Wicklow County Council sign deal with Inbhear Dee Athletic Club for Hawkstown Road site

Wicklow County Council signed a licence agreement with Inbhear Dee Athletic Club, giving the club access to the Hawkstown Road site in Wicklow Town as a dedicated training facility.

Wicklow County Council has signed a licence agreement with Inbhear Dee Athletic Club, giving the club access to the Hawkstown Road site in Wicklow Town as a dedicated training facility.

This arrangement will be temporary until longer-term development plans for the site commence.

This is a significant boost for the club, which until now, has lacked a permanent home for their 150 members.

The site had previously been earmarked for a large-scale community sports project under a master plan presented to the Wicklow Municipal District. While that long-term project remains in the pipeline, the council has now made the site available for athletics training in the interim.

Since securing the agreement, Inbhear Dee has developed a 1 kilometre running trail and a long jump area at the site, which is being funded through a mix of club investment, private sponsorship, and contributions from Wicklow Local Sports Partnership and the discretionary fund of Wicklow’s municipal councillors.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District, Cllr. Graham Richmond, welcomed the agreement stating,

“On behalf of the six elected members of Wicklow Municipal District, I want to thank the officials for their foresight in securing a licence agreement on this land for a club that has over 150 members but currently has no dedicated training area or home. Furthermore, I look forward to working closely with the officials in pursuing funding options to develop the site in the long term.”

Brian Gleeson, Director of Finance for Wicklow County Council and Wicklow Municipal District Manager, described the project as "extremely worthwhile."

"The future use of Hawkstown will be a huge boost to the club and will also enhance their ability to attract more members."

Eithne Walsh from Inbhear Dee Athletics Club was delighted, describing the project as, "a game changer for the club."

"I am really looking forward to seeing this space being developed as a community sports hub in the future, this is step one and there is so much more to look forward to."