Raheny Shamrocks closer to new clubhouse after 60 years

Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club is one step closer to a new home after nearly 60 years of being housed in an old schoolhouse.

At this month’s North Central Area Committee meeting, club representatives made a presentation to the council requesting to purchase a plot of land beside Cara Hall near All Saints Park.

Founded in 1958, the athletics club has over 600 registered members and “is an integral part of the Raheny community and surrounding areas,” according to Dick Hooper, a club member and former three-time Dublin Marathon winner.

“The club has been in the old village schoolhouse behind the scout’s den in Raheny since the early 1960s.

“The club celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2018.

“Since its foundation it has been serving the community in developing and promoting athletics as a sport for all,” he said.

During the presentation, Hooper said that the current building “is entirely unsuitable for our needs,” and the new proposed clubhouse will be approximately 6,000 square feet.

“The area required to facilitate the clubhouse is located immediately adjacent to the Cara Hall.

“The building will be designed in scale to complement the existing Cara Hall.”

The new clubhouse will include a sports hall, gym room, toilets, changing rooms, showers, offices, a kitchen, and storage for equipment.

“It is our intention that our new building will be consistent with the physical vista of all other buildings in the vicinity and we will continue to be good neighbours,” said Hopper during the presentation.

“The proposed site is located close to Raheny GAA and Raheny Celtic Football Club. This area could be described as the community and sports hub of Raheny.

“We will work with other clubs, organisations and the community should they need access our new clubhouse,” he said.

Green Party councillor and member of the North Central Area Committee, Donna Cooney said the proposal “for a new club house was warmly welcomed.”

Cooney says that that the “next stage will be progressed by north central managers,” before the proposal gets brought back to the area committee for approval of the land transfer.