Construction on UCD Athletics Track about to begin

Construction ready to start next week in at Richview, UCD

News that the UCD Athletics track is set to see bulldozers and diggers move into Belfield brought back memories of how over night, the last track was closed down due to "being slippery when wet" according to senior UCD sources at the time. UCD Athletics Club launched a powerful campaign to retain the track until a suitable plan to replace it had been found, but UCD authorities ploughed on regardless to tear down the old track. Thankfully, this time the diggers are there to help create new memories, and not to tear old ones down. 

Over 40 years since originally laid down, exactly eight years since it was ripped up, work is ready to get under way at UCD, thanks to an amazing donation of €3 million.

UCD Buildings and Services on Monday confirmed that construction on the new track is scheduled to finally begin on Monday, December 2nd, “delivering a world class athletics facility for the UCD community comprising of an eight-lane 400m IAAF synthetic track and a grass infield area suitable for athletics and multiple field sports”.

UCD have also published an artist’s impression of the new track at the Richview Clonskeagh end of the campus. The Sport Precinct of UCD is bringing some consistency to UCD's sports offering.

According to the Irish Times, in January, planning application notice was erected at the site, and while originally estimated there could be a 19-month build period, some of which may be weather-dependent, it is possible it may be completed by the end of 2020.

While this is great news that Ireland's biggest university is getting its track back, its hard to imagine the same soul and memories won't be there. First opened in June 1977, the UCD Athletics track was the home to some fantastic achievements. The track was also in its own mini amphitheathre, at the front gate of UCD, allowing it to be front and centre of the Belfield campus, but also easily accessibly to the local community.

We look forward to seeing the new track in action!