Inside Track: New stadium will give youngsters chance to follow their dream

The role models are in place. Kate O’Connor and Eve McCrystal, who have brought honour, glory and a hatful of medals back to their county, distinguishing themselves in arenas at home and throughout the world, have been given a much-deserved Civic Reception by Louth County Council.

They’re a couple who many youngsters will want to emulate. Before this year is out, there should be a long-awaited stadium in Dundalk, serving the entire county, for the budding athletes to hone their skills and follow a dream.

The great and the good from several spheres, athletics, politics and local government were at the Louth County Hall on Thursday night last to pay tribute to Paralympic champion many times over, Eve, and this year’s European and World pentathlon medalist, Kate.

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There were presentations, interviews, speeches, thousands of photos and pomp and ceremony. And in the midst of it all, an announcement that work is to begin next month on a new athletics stadium. The site, close to the Young Irelands’ GAA grounds, with an entrance off Hoey’s Lane, is presently covered in a lush green sod.

When work is complete, there’ll be an eight-lane 400-metre circuit, and infield, a facility for the shot put, javelin, and long-jump.

Just down Kate O’Connor’s alley, but also a centre which the county’s six athletic clubs can call their own for training and county championships.

Unlike the lamented Athletic Grounds, whose doors were closed to a multiple of sports for the last time in 1960, the new stadium might never stage All-Ireland athletic championships; but it will be where those who aspire to be champions can practice and compete, hoping that maybe someday they will mount a podium to have a medal hung around their necks, just like Kate and Eve.

“This will be a dream come true,” said Georgina Drumm, chairperson of Louth Athletics, who was present at the reception, and was also there to see Kate O’Connor collect her bronze at the European Indoor Championships.

“For close on ten years we’ve been working towards this. We needed a permanent home, a focal point. The county’s six clubs have been fully behind the project. Now that it’s to become a reality, we’re overjoyed.”

Soon-to-retire Louth County Director of Services, Joe McGuinness, had the task of welcoming the packed attendance. His colleague, Communications Officer, Gavin McLoughlin, formerly of this parish, conducted an excellent interview with the honoured guests, and Kevin Callan, chairman of the Louth County Council, and Sean Kelly, chairman of Dundalk Municipal Council, spoke of their pride in the girls’ success.

Members of the Dundalk Fire Service formed a colour party to the tune of Niall Clarke’s bagpipes, the Simply Strings Quartet also provided music and another of the town’s achievers, tenor David Martin, gave a resounding rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann.

While Kate O’Connor’s career is in its early stages, mother-of-two Eve McCrystal’s has come to an end – at least the international element of it. (After a decade of competing at Olympic and world level, nearly always in partnership of with Katie George-Dunlevy, it would be hard to imagine her looking for a place in the shed for her bike.).

The Jenkinstown girl has multiple Olympic and World medals to her credit, and in winning them has brought pride to her family, her county and country. Her achievements rank among the greatest of anyone from this county.

Kate O’Connor, whose father, Michael, has won deserved recognition for the part he has played as coach in his daughter’s success story, has the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as her main target. In the meantime, there’ll be other goals, on the boards and track. Her progress will be followed with interest.