Please see new Templemore Athletic Club official website at

www.templemoreathletic.com

or Email contact

mleyden@templemoreathletic.com

or

MOBILE 087 209 6356

Taoiseach performs Opens official opening 16/11/2007

                   Cutting the Tape
Taoiseach Bertie Aherne aided by Mayor Michael Keely, Minister Máire Hoctor, Noel Coonan TD and Michael Smith cuts the tape to officially oven the magnificent Olympic standard athletic track.

Taoiseach Bertie Aherne addresses the large crowd accompanied by local public representatives.

Mr Michael Heery, President, Athletics Ireland, ably supported by Templemore Athletic Club Officers & Committee.

Taoiseach to officially open Athletic Track in Templemore
An Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern TD will officially open Tipperary’s only Olympic Running Track in the Town Park, Templemore on Friday next 16^th November at 12.00noon.  The Athletic Track has a synthetic running surface, the same as that used in the Athens Stadium at the last Olympic Games in 2004.  It is unique in the Country, in that it has a specially designed porous surface which means no matter how heavy it rains, no water lodges on the surface.To ensure all year round use, the eight lane Athletic Running Track is fully floodlit.  It is a magnificent facility which is available to all sports clubs to utilise for Winter Speed Training.  The general public also use the new facility between 5.30pm and 9.00pm for walking, jogging or running – more later on the business end of the facility.
Funding:The facility cost €720,000 to date this will exceed €800,000 when the facility is fully equipped.  This means international standard (I.A.A.F. approved) equipment like; high jumps & pole vaults, landing areas, hurdles, steeple chase barriers, starting blocks, judges stand; and other competition equipment. The main sources of income were Government grants totalling €430,000; local government funding of €100,000 and club fundraising of €200,000. This includes club funds set aside to assist with the purchase of equipment. The club raised its funds through its annual draw, bag packing in supermarkets, ladies mini-marathon support teams sponsorship, donations from patronage scheme, advertising, progressive 25 drives and golf classics. This would not have been possible but for the team work and integrated approach between the club’s management committee the Athletic Track Development committee, and the team of fundraisers. They still have work to do to provide further finance to continue the development over the next four years. 

Background:
This facility has developed in various stages since 1980.  Between 1980 and 1983 an All-weather cinder track was developed, which served the Club very well for twenty years. When it was being developed the foundations were laid for a future ‘TARTAN TRACK WHEN STATE FUNDS WOULD ALLOW’.  A clubhouse was built between 1988/1990.  This will need up-grading in the future. In 2000 a specialised Track Development Committee was formed comprising of Tony shelly (RIP), Mick Connell & Martin Leyden, Paddy McLoughlin, Brendan Kennedy, and Adrian McGinley (engineer). This committee examined other Athletic tracks in Ireland, sought advise from a variety of sources as well as communicating with the I.A.A.F. in Switzerland. Then in late 2004 Swords Sports & Leisure Ltd were appointed overall contractors and commenced work in June 2005 & completed the project in early 2007.
Club:
Templemore AC caters for juveniles, seniors, and masters from the following areas; Clonakenny, Borrisoleigh, Loughmore-Castleiney, Drom & Inch, Templetuohy, Ballycahill, Upperchurch as well as Templemore-Clonmore-Killea.  Also a handful of new members hail from other areas like Moneygall, Roscrea, Thurles, and Rahealty.  The club coaches all Athletic Filed events as well as Track & Cross Country.Now that the facility is open to the public many people use the Athletic Track for exercising each evening at a cost of €2.00 per evening or €10 per month or annual fee of €50 per person or €75 per family.
November 16^th will be another red-letter day in the history of Templemore A.C. 

Chairperson Marian Howe, Mr Michael Heery, President, Athletics Ireland, and Buddy Guerin Templemore representing the Guerin Family Baltimore Maryland, U.S.A., major sponsors and supporters of Templemore Athletic Club.

Martin Quinn GRA, Chairperson Marian Howe, Mr Michael Heery, President, Athletics Ireland, & Cllr Michael Connell, Chairperson Development Committee and founding member, Templemore Athletic Club, at the official opening.

Large crowd in attendance

Mayor Michael Keely, addresses the gathering

Mary Shelley Treasurer presenting Taoiseach with a memento of the occasion.

Martin "Mr Athletics Templemore" Leyden reflects on a job well done

Rev Peter Cole-Baker & Fr Eugene Everard perform Official Blessing.

Buddy Guerin Templemore, representing the Guerin Family, Baltimore Maryland, U.S.A., major sponsors and supporters of Templemore Athletic Club, with Taoiseach Bertie Aherne and Chairperson Marian Howe.

Mayor Michael Keely at the official opening accompanied by from left Cllr Joe Hennessy, Minister Máire Hoctor, TD, Cllr Michael Smith, Cllr John Hogan, Cllr Joan Byrne, Cllr Jim O'Shea, Deputy Mayor, Mayor Michael Keely, Cllr Michael Connell, Noel Coonan, TD, Cllr Marcus Wilson, Cllr Lily O'Brien, Senator Alan Kelly.

All Weather  -  Lights on 5th March 2007

Lights Officially Turned on by Mary Shelley at 7pm 5th March 2007

Track under lights & rain 5/3/07

All Weather Tartan Lined 18th October 2006

Taking Shape 17th September 2006

Impressive looking and up to International Standard.

Ready for the Lanes

Laying Foundation for New ALL Weather Tartan Track JULY 2006

TAKING SHAPE

IMPRESSED ?

The FINISHING LINE IS IN SIGHT July 06

TARTAN ARRIVES 1st August 2006

Club Stalwarts Seamus Kavanagh and Martin Leyden watching the Progress

THE VERY BEGINNING

Pictured at the signing of the Contract for the installation of the All Weather Tartan Track
Left to Right Mayor Mick Connell, Joe Kelly (Solr), Eamonn Ashe, Swords Sports & Leisure Ltd., Marian Guerins-Howe (Chairperson)
 

In the Beginning.................

First Lap underway........

OFFICERS 2005/06

Chairperson Marian Guerins-Howe, 0504 32354
Vice-Chairperson Michael Connell 0504 31271
Secretary Geraldine Ingram, 087 996 0837
Coach / PRO Martin Leyden, 087 209 6356
Treasurer Mary Shelley, 0504 31255
Assistant Treasurer Maura Kearney
Registrar Mary Danagher
Child Officer Mary Buckley
Transport Officer Joe Danagher
Development Officers M. Leyden & B. Murray
Committee: Teresa Higgins, Geraldine Purcell, Peggy Cussen, Martin O'Brien, Margaret Kiely, Seamus Kavanagh.

Email ; templemoreac@eircom.net

COACHING

Coaching and training takes place at the following times and venues;
Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays at 7pm in the Templemore AC Grounds.
Tuesdays at 8pm Gárda Sports field (by kind permission) for Second & Third Level Students as well as all Seniors.
Thursdays at 7pm in the Town Park, Borrisoleigh.

COACHES

Martin Leyden,
Seamus Kavanagh
Liz Butler
Carmel Quinlan
Johnny Doran

Events coached include Track & Field (Long & High Jump, Throws, Sprints, Hurdles, Middle Distance, etc.) Cross Country and Road Running.  

 ROLL of HONOUR

• All Ireland League Champions 2001 & 2003
  County Track & Field Champions 1993, 1997, 2002, 2003.
  County Novice Cross Country Champions 1992, 1993, 1994.
  County Intermediate Cross Country Champions 1993.

• Winning on average of 45 All Ireland medals each year.

• Since 1997 U.S. Collegiate Scholarships awarded to 3 club athletes

• Club member Tomás Coman represented Ireland at Sydney Olympics.

• Club member Margaret Danagher represented Ireland at World Cross Country 2002.

• Club member Moira Moran represented Ireland at Special Olympics 2003.

• Club member Stephen O'Toole won the 50 Mile Ultra Marathon Championship 1084.

• 30 club members have represented Ireland at international level.  

CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Templemore AC are currently undertaking a major Capital Development Programme, involving
the construction of a state of the art 400 metre floodlit running track, with ancillary facilities for field events, including Long, Triple and High Jump, Shot-Putt, Javelin, Hammer, discuss and Pole Vault The entire infield area will comprise a full size regulation Soccer Pitch.
When completed, Templemore AC will boast a world class facility, unequalled nationally, and capable of staging major championships, drawing competitors from across the globe.

FINANCE 

The entire project is set to cost in excess of €700,000, and the club will have to provide €210,000 as its share of the Capital Costs. The Department of Sport will provide 70% of the funding, and to date Templemore AC has raised in excess of €135,000 towards its portion of the Capital Cost.

FUNDRAISING

Detailed programmes are being developed to raise the remaining balance and much dedication is required from our hardworking committee in order to achieve our goal of €75,000.In order to finalise our portion of the funding, we are appealing for contributions and support, from whatever part of society locally, nationally or internationally to construct what will be a huge asset to the town and neighbouring hinterlands of Templemore. Our Finance Sub-Committee is already actively engaged on our behalf with Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

If you are interested, you may contribute, to the scheme, under the following headings;

• Corporate / Business Sponsorships

• Patronage Contributions

• Tax Deductible Donations in excess of €250.

If reading this report, either as a native, descendant, relative or interested party in the town of Templemore, or Tipperary, and you wish to assist us in our efforts to provide a world class facility, please do not hesitate to contact us. Feel free to talk to any member of our committee, or if you prefer you can email us at mardes01@gmail.com , and we will gladly supply any information or clarification you require.

We look forward to hearing from you.