Dublin’s ‘new town’ celebrates opening of community centre

ADAMSTOWN locals have been celebrating the opening of their new community centre which was officially unveiled as part of a fun-filled Community Day.

The Mayor of South Dublin County Council Cllr Paul Gogarty, unveiled the plaque along with local Fine Gael TD and former Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald and other local representatives.

The two-storey centre contains a fully-fitted sports hall that includes indoor cricket nets, multi-purpose community meeting rooms, a fitness suite and associated kitchenette, toilets, storage area, changing areas and a reception. 

Irish cricketer Kevin O’Brien and fellow members of the Irish cricket team hosted a masterclass on the newly opened all-weather pitch while local residents of Adamstown were entertained with activities including Lego building, Junior Einstein Science Club, magicians and face painting.

In addition, there was a simulated rollercoaster as well as food and musical entertainment from well-known party band, Spring Break. 

Commenting on the opening, Adamstown resident and chairperson of the Adamstown Community Centre board, Meena Baskarasubramanian, said: “This fantastic new centre has been eagerly awaited by our local com-munity. 

“It will provide an important focal point for sporting, social and community activity in Adamstown.”

Home to a vibrant community and numerous sports clubs, this brand new modern facility will be available to 1,800 students of adjacent schools, Adamstown Community College, St John the Evangelist and Adamstown Cas-tle Educate Together during school hours.

The centre will also open to the community in the evenings, weekends and during school holidays from September.

Funding for the centre was provided by Adamstown Infrastructure DAC, Cairn Homes, Hugh McGreevy and Sons and South Dublin County Council as part of the Adamstown Strategic Development Zone.

The first new town of the 21st century, Adamstown, is now back on track despite challenging times during the recession. Located 16km west of Dublin City, it is designed to be a model of good planning and sustainable development where residential development of 8,000 units are be progressed along with schools, shops, community and sports centres, parks, and transport infrastructure. 

A budget of €150 million was costed for the delivery of social and civil infrastructure at initial conception of the planning scheme with schools and a railway.

Rail links to the city make it far less car dependent than its West Dublin neighbours and with the recent addition of the opening of the Phoenix Park Tunnel there is an easy 20-minute commute to the city. 

Since 2016, Adamstown Infrastructure DAC, Somerton Residential along with Castlethorn Construction, Cairn Homes and Hugh McGreevy & Sons have seen the development of four different housing schemes with 1,000 units for the New Homes market.

This will bring the number of residential units delivered under the planning scheme close to 2,500 in the not near future. 

In conjunction with delivering much needed housing for the area, South Dublin County Council together with the landowners have successfully secured commitment of a €20million grant as part of the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ Programme.