Launch of three new Athletics Clubs in South Dublin County.
South Dublin Couth Sports Partnership (SDCSP) and Athletics Ireland (AI) Launched three new South Dublin County Running Clubs alongside Mayor Peter Kavanagh and TD Mark Ward with a 5km Walk/ Run event in Corkagh Park on Sunday September 26th.
During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, SDCSP role was to engage as many people in physically activity through a wide range of new innovative programmes and support existing community clubs & organisations.
During this time of uncertainty local people came together in both Bawnogue (Bawnogue Running Club) and Clondalkin Village (Clondalkin Flyers) to meet up for runs and encouraging people within these areas to join them. These runs became a huge success with numbers increasing on a weekly basis giving people a sense of community while working on their physical and mental health. With the success of the other groups North Clondalkin Running Club was formed as part of SDCSP North Clondalkin Sports Hub and supported by South Dublin County Partnership.
SDCSP recognised how much these local leaders of the clubs had inspired their communities and looked at how they can support them. Community Sports Officer Ian Farrell contacted Athletics Ireland’s David Matthews, and both set out a plan to turn these running groups into Official AI Running Clubs by offering a Start-up Package and we now have three new official running Clubs in South Dublin County.
The first step was to upskill the groups running leaders through a coach education course with AI which we had 26 (22 from South Dublin County) people trained up as running coaches followed by having the clubs set up committees and registering to be affiliated with AI.
These clubs have now made out long term plans with the help of the SDCSP to ensure that they can grow and be sustainable.
How to Join these clubs
North Clondalkin RC
Follow @northclondalkinrc on Instagram/ Facebook and message the page for details.
Clondalkin Flyers RC
Follow @clondalkinflyersrc on Instagram/ Facebook and message the page for details.
Bawnogue RC
Follow @bawnoguerunningclub on Instagram/ Facebook and message the page for details.
