Cork's top teams and athletes to benefit from revamped UCC Mardyke Arena gym

EchoLive.ie, 10 Jul

€3m state-of-the-art-facility was officially opened on Monday

Cork's top teams and athletes to benefit from revamped UCC Mardyke

Arena gym

Lizzie Lee, Olympian, (left) and Lauren McCourt, national U23 400m

champion, at the new Mardyke Arena UCC. Picture: Denis Minihane.

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Dylan O’ Connell

THE best and brightest of Cork sport gathered at the Mardyke Arena for

the official opening of the University College Cork Mardyke Arena Elite

Athlete Team High Performance Strength & Conditioning Gym.

The €3m state-of-the-art-facility will provide elite athletes and elite

teams at national, international, an Olympic standard a facility to

rival the best on the island of Ireland and internationally.

The facility is also the first carbon-neutral building in UCC and it is

located at the back of the main building by the running track.

The event was attended by Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy, Minster for

Finance Michael McGrath, and a host of other delegates.

All-Ireland winner and current UCC senior football manager Billy

Morgan, Olympian Lizzy Lee, and boxer Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan were also

at the event.

Boxers Cathal Crowley and Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan at the official

opening of the new Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team

high-performance gym in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane. Boxers Cathal

Crowley and Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan at the official opening of the new

Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team high-performance gym in

Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

They explored the new facility that will be made available to all

high-performance teams, a group that includes Cork GAA, Cork City FC,

and Munster Rugby.

UCC President John O'Halloran opened up the proceedings with a speech

that also marked the Mardyke Arena’s 23rd year in business.

“When we talk about world-class facilities, we mean that,” he began.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the rich history of sport at

University College Cork as we gather to celebrate the official launch

of the Elite Athlete and Team High Performance Strength & Conditioning

gym in the iconic Mardyke Arena.

“For over 110 years the Mardyke has been witness to local, national and

international sporting events and today we add another chapter to that

legacy.

Since its official opening in 2001, the Mardyke Arena has grown

exponentially to establish itself as a truly world-class facility.

“Ambition, dedication, and perseverance defines the very essence of

University College Cork.

This represents the culmination of collective effort by the Mardyke

Arena team to create a space that fosters growth, nurtures talent, and

supports the aspirations and ambitions of our fantastic students.

“This state-of-the-art-facility is more than a gym. It’s a symbol of

the University’s commitment to the unwavering holistic development of

our students.

“May this gym be a sanction of growth, a testament of perseverance, and

a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

The new Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team high-performance gym.

Picture: Denis Minihane. The new Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team

high-performance gym. Picture: Denis Minihane.

This was followed by Minster McGrath, a UCC alumnus, who talked about

the long history of sport at the College.

“It just shows the excellent facilities they have here in UCC,” he

referred to the new facility.

“It is also about collaboration. That is why is so important to see

representatives here from so many different sporting codes, different

sporting organisations, and governing bodies here this morning.

“There is such a rich tradition of sport here in Cork. It makes perfect

sense that the facilities developed here by UCC at the Mardyke are made

available.

The Minster also talked about the need to prioritise continuous

investment into facilities that will bring top sport stars to Cork.

“We recognise that we have to continue to invest,” he explained.

UCC, like all of the universities and colleges, is in competition to

get the best students but also the best athletes.

“Having facilities here in UCC gives them the best chance of attracting

those students, who get to go on to represent the university."

At the official opening of the new Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team

high performance gym in Cork were Patsy Ryan, general manager, Mardyke

Arena; Lauren McCourt, national under 23 400m champion; Prof. John

O'Halloran, president, UCC; Michael McGrath, TD, Minister for Finance,

and John Mullins, chairman, board of directors, Mardyke Leisure, UCC

DAC. Picture: Denis Minihane. At the official opening of the new

Mardyke Arena UCC elite athlete team high performance gym in Cork were

Patsy Ryan, general manager, Mardyke Arena; Lauren McCourt, national

under 23 400m champion; Prof. John O'Halloran, president, UCC; Michael

McGrath, TD, Minister for Finance, and John Mullins, chairman, board of

directors, Mardyke Leisure, UCC DAC. Picture: Denis Minihane.

John Mullins, who is chair of the Board of Directors for the Mardyke

Arena, stressed the importance of the new facility as a structure

designed for the needs of the modern day athlete.

“But that’s exactly what people are going to do. Strength and

Conditioning is really important now in today’s games,” he said.

“The Strength and Conditioning that this Elite Performance gym is going

to provide is going to be superb.

“We started talking about this project in 2020 for all the clubs here

but also for the wider community, we are hoping a lot of the

organisations here will actually use the facility on a commercial

basis.

“It’s great to see that we now have a state-of-the-art facility which

is up there with Leinster rugby and Arsenal Football Club, it was

designed on the same basis as those professional organisations.

“I would say - without doubt – that this is now the best facility in

the country, on this island, in terms of everything that it offers.