John Dempsey Memorial Gala (SC) (UL) (2022)

Organizer

UL Sport Facilities - (Limerick)

Phone

(061) 213 555

Website

UL Arena in University of Limerick

UL Sport is the new and ultra-simple brand that heralds ‘Ireland’s Sports Campus’ that encapsulates over 40 years of dedicated professional service that has changed the face of Sport in Ireland. Beginning our life as the National College of Physical Education (N.C.P.E.) we have evolved through the National Institute of Higher Education Limerick (N.I.H.E. (L)) and Thomond College of Education (T.C.E.) before receiving University status in 1989 and becoming now the world respected University of Limerick (U.L.) Throughout our short history Sport and indeed Recreation has been an integral part of what we cherish and encourage as we invite all our students and staff to sign up to our over arching belief that ‘Mens Sana in Corpore Sano’ – a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body as our contribution to a balanced society. The basic beginner to the Olympic athlete enjoys the same billing and support and our message is proving very effective. The initial stone dropped into the 1972 Physical Education pond new enjoys ripples into every aspect and level of Sport and Exercise in Ireland as we continue to lead and challenge the next sporting generations. Not only do we affect performance but UL Sport now enjoys the role of hosting many international and national competitions on our magnificent Campus. With accommodation in place for thousands a new era of staging events in the one location has sky rocketed and has drawn us directly into the Sports Tourism industry. From humble beginnings UL Sport now lives the brand the affects quality of life and sports performance and forms the centrepiece of Sporting Limerick’s claim to be Ireland’s Sporting Capital. The UL Sport Arena – This stand-alone facility is home to the National 50m swimming pool base for the high performance swim unit, Multipurpose four court Sports Halls with bleacher seating for 17,000, 25M Diving Pool, the National Strength & Conditioning Centre, Fitness Studio, Indoor 225M 3-lane Jogging Track, 60M Sprint Track and various other ancillary and associated services. Increased numbers which now average 14,000 individual visits per week. The Arena building was officially opened on April 11th 2002 by An Taoiseach Mr. Bernie Ahern. The UL Sport Outdoor Facilities – We have multi-purpose fully floodlit all weather synthetic grass parks on both the north and south campus. The North campus contains two full size 3rd Generation (3G) soccer pitches, one full size 3G rugby pitch and a full size 3G GAA pitch. This is the largest artificial grass development in Ireland to date designed to IRB, GAA and FIFA specifications. In addition to the state of the art playing fields there is a Sports Pavilion which contains a reception arena, eight changing rooms (all with underfloor heating), two squad rooms and a Pavilion Bar & Restaurant. This facility is open to UL staff & students and the wider community and regions. The North Campus was officially opened on August 8th 2010. The South campus (Maguires) contains two full size 3rd Generation (3G) GAA pitches, one full size GAA Grass pitch , all floodlit. The pitches are also marked for Soccer. Current resident groups include Limerick GAA, Munster Rugby Academy, we have welcomed many GAA county teams since our opening – Limerick, Clare, Kerry, Galway, Cork to mention but a few. We also have a stand-alone facility bank that includes a 400m Athletic Track (refurbished and upgraded in 2018), an Astroturf facility, and four Tennis Courts. The south campus pitches are part of the “Leave a Legacy” campaign ran by the students in 2016, the development was funded by UL students. This facility was officially opened on September 24th 2019.