Our Journey So Far
From vision to reality, the story of the SRC is one of community, determination, and progress. Here are some of the key milestones along the way.
A delegation from Leitrim visits the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Co. Tyrone on a fact-finding mission. Seeing multiple sports played simultaneously on a shared site inspires the idea of building a similar multi-sport facility for the Shannonside region.
Following the inspiration trip, a dedicated steering committee is established to turn the vision into reality. Sub-committees for Design & Build, Finance, and Communications are formed, eventually growing to over 30 committed volunteers.
With funding support from Leitrim County Council and local businesses, a suitable site in Carrick-on-Shannon is purchased. This marks a major step forward in securing a physical home for the SRC vision.
Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project receives full planning permission. This milestone clears the way for real progress toward construction and funding.
The project receives a critical funding boost with a €1 million grant from the Community Recognition Fund. This allows groundworks for Phase 1 to begin and helps build momentum behind the broader development.
On 22nd June 2023, over 150 attendees from local sports and community groups gather at Carrick Business Campus for a public presentation of the SRC project. Chair Brendan Lowe outlines the ambitious vision for the all-inclusive, regional sports campus and celebrated the recent award of a €1 million Community Recognition Fund grant. The event highlights overwhelming community support and marks a significant step forward, with groundwork plans and engineering surveys already in motion.
On 18th September 2023, after nearly a decade of planning and perseverance, the first sod is turned at the Shannonside Recreational Campus site on Castlecara Road in Carrick-on-Shannon. This marks the official start of groundworks for Phase 1 of the project.
Support reaches a meaningful milestone as Carrick Town F.C. and the Carrick-on-Shannon Chamber of Commerce each contribute €10,000 to the project. These generous donations highlight the strength of community belief in the SRC vision and are part of the growing response to the Forty Founding Families and Founding Patrons campaigns, which offer lasting recognition to those helping to build a facility for everyone in the Shannonside region.
Carrick-on-Shannon-based Cora Systems, a global leader in enterprise project and portfolio management software, pledge a transformative €200,000 to the SRC. This cornerstone donation ensures that a key component of Phase 1—the all-weather 4G ‘Cora Pitch’—can move ahead, and highlights the power of local business in regional development.
A target completion date of mid-2026 is announced for Phase 1, which will include astroturf pitch, running track foundations, and supporting infrastructure. Grant applications to Peace Plus and LSSIF are in progress to help fund the remaining work.
On 4th November 2024, the SRC project received €3.3 million under the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This grant supports the development of core facilities including the astroturf pitch, floodlighting, and dressing rooms. The LSSIF funding covers up to 70% of eligible infrastructure costs and marks a critical step in completing key elements of Phase 1.
A second, transformational funding award of €15,342,366 was announced via the PEACEPLUS Programme (Theme 1.4: Re-Imaging Communities), jointly secured by the SRC and Leitrim County Council. The funding will go toward the creation of the Shannonside Peace Arena (SPA)—a shared multi-sport pavilion including a high-performance gym, full-size athletics track, and multifunctional spaces. This investment represents one of the most substantial regional sports and community development allocations in the border counties.
13th February 2025 marked the official launch of the Shannonside Peace Arena Project, a major element of the SRC vision. Members of the SRC Committee were joined on-site by representatives from SEUPB, the Department for Communities, and Leitrim County Council to celebrate the beginning of this transformative, cross-community facility—made possible through PEACEPLUS funding. The day was a proud moment for all involved and a powerful step forward for inclusive sport and recreation in the region.
