National Sports Campus on track to become centre of Irish sport

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has confirmed a number of developments at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown including the establishment of high performance training facilities for Horse Sport Ireland and Pentathlon Ireland.

Also speaking at the briefing, GAA Director General Paraic Duffy re-affirmed the GAA’s commitment to establish facilities on the campus and reflected on one of the most memorable Championship seasons in recent decades.

Amongst the developments at the National Sports Campus, Minister Varadkar confirmed that lease agreements have been put in place with the FAI, GAA, IRFU and IHA, after the ownership of lands at Blanchardstown were transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Campus Development Authority in August.

“I’m very pleased with the huge progress made in the last six months. I hope this decision by HIS and Pentathlon Ireland will encourage many other NGBs to view the Campus as an ideal site for developing facilities and enhancing their own sport. Following on from the positive announcement on investment in training pitches from the FAI earlier this month, today’s announcement shows that the partnership approach between Government and sporting bodies which I announced last March is working”, Minister Varadkar said.