Call for progress on shared municipal facilities in Dundalk

Independent councillor Ciarán Fisher is calling for progress on shared municipal sports facilities in Dundalk, prioritising additional sports fields and a vision to create a parkland 5km route.

Cllr Fisher said that the soon to be opened Athletics Track and County Stadium were examples that show what can be achieved and that a number of local clubs are now effectively landlocked and struggling to cope with growing membership.

“St Dominics, Rock Celtic, Dundalk Gaels, Dundalk Young Islanders and Sean O’Mahony’s, Quay Celtic, Dundalk FC academy, the list goes on and on of clubs in the same boat – no room to expand and facilities stretched to the limit”, he commented.

“These clubs are bursting at the seams, especially with youth and girls’ teams. We need proper municipal pitches that can be shared and used by the whole community.

“This is in the context of clubs that are doing everything right, being inclusive, branching out into their communities, but running out of road and room.”

Cllr Fisher said the recently adopted Louth Local Sports and Physical Activity Plan 2026–2031 already recognises that most public facilities are at capacity and that Dundalk’s growing population needs new outdoor provision, and that the plan itself tells us the facilities are full and that more multi-use pitches and outdoor recreation routes are needed.

“What’s needed now is action on the ground – I think shared sporting pitches would be a start, realistically in our climate, the town needs another astroturf facility.

“I know I’ve mentioned previously that the old dump site could be an ideal location for this, and I understand that is being considered, but there are other locations too.

“As Dundalk grows, so must the facilities to match. This is to enable everyone who wants to participate to do so, and to ensure that we can develop talented young athlethes here in Dundalk and Louth. “

Cllr Fisher added that he thought the council should be “ambitious and purchase land, perhaps down the coast side of the Red Barns road, to create a proper off-road 5km running loop in parkland, that walkers, runners and families can use safely.”

The Independent councillor is inviting clubs, running groups and interested residents to get involved. “I think it would be beneficial to form a working group of people with backgrounds in different disciplines, to work with the council on this:

“To document the extent of concerns and to hold the plan accountable to deliver. If you’re from a club that’s under pressure or you just want to see better facilities in Dundalk, get in touch with me and we’ll get the ball rolling.”

Cllr Fisher said that anyone interested in joining the effort can contact him directly.