Planning approval for Athlone Boxing Club’s new premises

Athlone Boxing Club's aim of moving into a purpose-built premises next to the town's Regional Sports Centre received a significant boost last week when the new facility was granted planning permission.

For close to 20 years now, the boxing club has been training in a basement gym at St Peter and Paul's Church, where there are no toilet facilities or changing rooms.

Last November the club lodged plans for a new building that is to include "an indoor arena, changing facilities, equipment storage areas, toilets and changing facilities for disabled persons, and other ancillary facilities," as well as site works, landscaping, and drainage.

On Tuesday last, June 17, the development was given the green light by Westmeath County Council, subject to six conditions.

The location for the project is between the Athlone Town FC stadium and the Regional Sports Centre, and it would be alongside a new Athlone Squash Club premises which was granted planning permission by Westmeath County Council in 2023.

Athlone Boxing Club issued a statement last week welcoming the planning decision. A significant fundraising effort will be required before any construction work gets underway, with the club pointing out that "the hard work starts now".

"After a lot of negotiation and grafting by club coaches Rory Parkes and Joe Ward, the club has finally been granted full planning permission from Westmeath County Council to build a new purpose-built boxing facility in Athlone at the Regional Sports Centre," read the statement.

"The club would like to say a special word of thanks to those who have helped out so far and gave up their time willingly to support the project, especially John Cusack, who has given a huge amount of his time to help us, and also Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, Cllr John Dolan, John Hayden, and our architect, David McGuinness, who has done a remarkable job.

"We are now in the process of setting up our development committee and look forward to working with those who will be the driving force behind securing funding and supporting the project to get over the line.

"It will be a long road and the hard work starts from now."

The club issued a rallying call for the community to back the project and help support the provision of suitable training facilities for its large membership of young male and female boxers.

"We are hoping everyone in the community will support this project, as our work is, and always will be, to help and support children from every background to succeed in sport.

"This facility is for them. Please help out the club in any way you can. Go raibh maith agat."