Ireland's first velodrome in doubt despite planning permission approved 20 months ago
The €8m project, that would see Ireland have its first indoor velodrome, is in doubt with construction work yet to begin

Plans to build Ireland's first ever indoor velodrome are up in the air - despite planning permission being granted in March 2013.
The €8m facility at the National Sports Campus on the outskirts of the capital Dublin was approved by Fingal County Council 20 months ago.
The project had already secured funding for the planning and design stage and after the ratification by the council sought finance to begin construction.
Cycling Ireland, the sport's governing body in the country, put the scheme out to tender last year but no one, as of yet, has been forthcoming with the required monies.
>>> Lars Petter Nordhaug and Matt Brammeier join new Irish Pro Continental team for 2017
What appears to have stalled the project is the Government's latest budget.
"Unfortunately, in the budget that came out a few weeks ago, there wasn’t a specific capital allocation project for next year," Geoff Liffey, Cycling Ireland's CEO, told the Irish Times.
The setback means that that the velodrome is now facing a race against time to be built before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a target that was originally set when the project was approved.
There is optimism, however, that the velodrome - which would feature an Olympic-standard 250m track - can get the go-ahead.
“It is disappointing. We remain confident it can be done in the future, but next year there appears to be a degree of consolidation on the capital side for sports facilities. So there is no significant advancement," Liffey added.
>>> Hope remains that Inverness will get velodrome despite setback
It is estimated that once - if - work begins, it would be completed within a two year time frame.
Cycling in Ireland is currently experiencing a renaissance with 2013 scratch race world champion Martyn Irvine coming out of retirement to race for the country's Pro-Continental outfit Aqua Blue Sport, and young time triallist Ryan Mullen riding to fifth at the World Championships for Ireland.
Nicolas Roche, son of Ireland's most famous cyclist Stephen, has signed for BMC Racing from Sky for 2017.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online. He is not responsible for misspelled titles on box outs, and he lost the argument about using UK spellings
-
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Charlotte Kool wins final stage of RideLondon-Classique to seal overall victory
Kool edges out Dyget and Van der Duin in bunch sprint
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
'Just don't wreck yourself' - Fred Wright on his GB track gamble and the Olympics
The Bahrain Victorious rider is set to compete at the European Track Championships next week
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Inside the secret race at the Track Champions League
Cycling Weekly lifts the lid on the private points contests ridden out of the spotlight
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
'Chris Hoy said the British coaches may be kicking themselves’ - Britain’s lost track cycling champion
British-born Australian Matthew Richardson has fast become one of the world's best track sprinters
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Katie Archibald gets back to winning ways at Track Champions League
The defending endurance champion is up to second after the competition's second round
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Five Dutch sprinters squeezed in a van: Life behind the glamour of the Track Champions League
Now in its second year, the competition takes riders back to their early racing days
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mark Stewart takes the men’s Endurance classification lead in the Track Champions League
Scotsman Stewart wins the Scratch and places third in the Elimination as Katie Archibald takes women’s Scratch victory
By Owen Rogers • Last updated
-
'This is the essence of track racing' - Chris Hoy on season two of the Track Champions League
Six-time Olympic gold medallist says he wishes he had something like this during his record-breaking track career
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ethan Hayter bags second gold for GB on Track World Championships day four
The Brit brought his country's medal tally to seven as he retained his omnium title
By Tom Davidson • Last updated