Trinity buys Iveagh Grounds for the development of student sports facilities
Posted on: 07 December 2017
Trinity students to benefit from a combined total of fifty acres of sports facilities
Trinity College Dublin has bought the Iveagh Sports Grounds facilities from Diageo. The grounds are a 17-acre facility in Crumlin, including GAA, rugby, bowls, tennis and hockey pitches and are among one of the largest sporting grounds close to Dublin city centre. The University has ambitious plans to further develop the grounds for the benefit of student sports. The announcement was made this week by both Trinity and Diageo.
Trinity now has a combined total of over 50 acres of sports pitches across all its sports facilities. The Iveagh grounds join the campus sports pitches – College Park on the Trinity campus which provides facilities for soccer, hockey and rugby; and the 34-acre Santry Sports Grounds with natural grass soccer, GAA, rugby and hockey pitches as well as floodlit pitches and training areas.
Commenting on the purchase and development of the Iveagh Grounds for students, Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast said:
“We look forward to presenting the development plans for the sports facility to our students, staff, alumni and external partners in the near future. We aim to develop Trinity as one of the best university sporting experiences in Ireland and leader in third level sports. Sports is at the heart of the Trinity experience. It is an essential co-curricular activity and we want to optimise the connection between academic achievement and involvement in meaningful sporting programmes. The acquisition of this great sports facility will enable us further in achieving this. “
Trinity Head of Sports, Michelle Tanner added: “Our vision is to create a hub of outdoor sports facilities that fulfils existing and future demand, engages, attracts and increases activities at participation and performance levels for students and serves the needs of the community sporting groups.”
The Iveagh Grounds were originally established in 1928 for the benefit of Guinness workers. The grounds have not operated as part of the company or Diageo staff offering for more than two decades. Up until the acquisition they were managed by the Guinness Athletic Union (GAU), an independent club with a broad membership from across the community. Under the terms of the agreement, Trinity is assuming ownership, control and management of the Iveagh Grounds. It is planned that the Guinness Athletic Union (GAU), and its clubs will enjoy continued access to the facilities at preferential rates. GAU will also continue to offer recreational and function rooms, which are an important local community asset.
Commenting on the agreement with Trinity, Kieran Gowing, Diageo Ireland Finance Director, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Trinity, who have a great reputation and record of operating sporting facilities and working with community and other groups to maximise their benefit for both students and the wider community. We end our association with the Iveagh Grounds knowing they are in very good hands as they enter an exciting new era.”
