Sligo Rowing Club and Sligo Kayak Club are delighted to announce that they have recently being successful in acquiring planning permission for the building of a new two storey boat house. The proposed development intends to replace the existing containers with a new modern building which is designed to cater for the specific needs of the Rowing and Kayak clubs and assimilate more naturally with the surrounding landscape where indeed in previous years a building did exist with a boat shed nearby.
The proposed boat house sits on the footprint of the existing storage containers with the main access doors facing the car park and slipways. The layout of the building is similar to the existing storage container footprint which is elongated to cater for boats up to 18 meters in length. There is side access on to the existing riverside walkway and along the roadside elevation for smaller boats and kayaks. The main first floor entrance is located to the side of the building facing the main car park and public roadway. The design consists of an ‘A’ gable facade to the front elevation catering for a large open plan ground floor and loft style first floor with gymnasium, changing rooms and administration rooms. The first floor balcony has the same orientation as the main boat access doors facing upstream on to the Garavogue river in a South Easterly direction. The exterior finish of the boat house consists of a natural stone wall cladding extending to a plinth at first floor level with the remainder of the facade finished with a horizontal timber cladding. This finish is similar to other iconic building in the area such as the new race course buildings adjacent to the Cleveragh Demesne entrance gates.
Tom Colsh, Chairman of Sligo Rowing Club, and Brendan Timon, Chairman of Sligo Kayak Club both expressed their delight that planning approval has been secured and look forward to having a new club facility which will be of enormous benefit to current and future members of both clubs in the years to come. Both acknowledged the support of Sligo County Council, Sligo Sports Partnership and other community and national sports groups to date and look forward to future cooperation and engagement to deliver this sporting community facility for generations to come.
Sligo Rowing Club who are affiliated to the sports national rowing body, Rowing Ireland have been in existence since 2006. Since that time they have grown into a strong vibrant club catering for all ages and abilities accommodating both competitive and leisurerowing and have enjoyed much success at both a national and international level.
Sligo Kayak Club, affiliated with Canoeing Ireland, have been in existence almost 12 years and have over 100 members of all ages and ability levels. The club currently engages in several kayaking disciplines including flatwater touring kayaking, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking and surf kayaking with plans to develop kayak polo in the near future. The club runs beginner courses every summer to introduce new members to the sport and has had great success in recent years with the Women on Water programme. The club also regularly supports local charity events as well as providing safety cover for several local open water swims each summer including the Metalman Swim Series, the Lough Gill Swim, Sligo Tri and more.
Whilst the existing facility of storage containers accommodated the start-up of both clubs in their infant years the continued existence of the now established clubs requires a fit for purpose permanent facility with adequate and accessible boat/kayak storage areas coupled with changing rooms and associated toilet and shower facilities to cater for its existing members and boat fleet. To this end the clubs submitted for planning permission for a joint flt for purpose facility to accommodate their existing members in a safe environment and in what are basic requirements of any club.
Sligo Kayak Club would like to offer our congratulations to the team in Sligo Rowing Club for their hard work over several years to get to this point.