Sundrive Track Vandalised

seamus · 23-09-2010 02:52PM

Is the graffiti related or was it there before?

Chips Lovell · 23-09-2010 02:54PM

seamus wrote: »

Is the graffiti related or was it there before?

The IRA stuff was there before, at least I'm pretty sure it was.

Dr_Colossus · 23-09-2010 02:57PM

el tonto wrote: »

The IRA stuff was there before, at least I'm pretty sure it was.

Yes it was there before alright. Where did they even get those plastic barriers from, would have to carry them from outside the park as there was nothing around the enclosed track on Tues evening. There's road works outside the side gate on Ruthland Avenue but the plastic barriers they have there are red so doubt that's what they used. Surely someone would have seen something if they had to carry plastic barriers in from outside the park.

cyclinglucan · 23-09-2010 03:00PM

Grafitti was there on the new track - and blacked out, but starting to show through recently.

This was - by any standards, an excellent track, with a perfect surface,

Some of the youth riders are devastated.

the Track Commission have encouraged local participation, and formed a club there for local young riders.

local attacks / trouble / break ins had been increasing in recent weeks.

Harrybelafonte · 23-09-2010 03:03PM

cyclinglucan wrote: »

Grafitti was there on the new track - and blacked out, but starting to show through recently.

This was - by any standards, an excellent track, with a perfect surface,

Some of the youth riders are devastated.

the Track Commission have encouraged local participation, and formed a club there for local young riders.

local attacks / trouble / break ins had been increasing in recent weeks.

Is there any hint at a motive (if there is any)?

Hungrycol · 23-09-2010 03:11PM

Tails142 wrote: »

Doesnt look too bad in that photo, looks like the heat wasnt high enough to melt the surface.

30 minutes with a sharp spade would get most of the melted plastic off and the track surface might be in a reasonable state afterwards.

I had a brown bin burnt out outside my home on the road a few months ago. Melted to a pancake. the following morning after it had cooled I was picking it up and with it big chunks of tarmac and that's the bit's I could shovel up the rest welded to the tarmac to be forever part of the road. Molton plastic is just bad news for everything it comes in contact with.

fenris · 23-09-2010 05:02PM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Well done you just insulted a whole neighbourhood

Moderators

I'd be sure 99% of people from that area are decent and like to see sport in their area

It is not the makey up statistical 99% that are causing the problem.

There are scumbags everywhere in varying proportions but these ones seem to like messing with tracks - maybe they should be declared a protected species and given special track burning rights to recognise their unique contribution to society. :rolleyes:

The fact that the only facility in the country was targeted twice in a relatively short period raises the question as to whether is it worth repairing in that location.

The secondary question is what is gained by the attack?
- protection racket?
- giving less people a reason to be in that area?
- phobia against fixies / track bikes resulting in a preemptive strike on their breeding ground?

Is the facility important enough to enough people to cover the cost of security in the form of barriers or personnel?

How many times will we get funding to fix it?

As an aside, wasn't the burning of a bike the catalyst for the current current gang war in Crumlin/Drimnagh?

Shark_ · 23-09-2010 08:52PM

MWalljobs wrote: »

has it occurred to anyone that this might be a warning from a protection type gang ?? I would not be surprised if the track committee would be approached for a "regular" donation to keep the track free from "unwanted interference".
Such are the lawless times we live in.

I hope I'm wrong, Mafia type activity is very hard to stamp out.

This might be a knock on effect off a track invasion.We were racing one night a few weeks ago.A local lad not a kid, walked across the finishing straght as we were going for the sprint.He had to be persuaded with a push off the track.He then went on to assaulted a person that night.

desertcircus · 24-09-2010 12:23AM

Maybe ask one of the mobile networks if they'd like a free site for a disguised mast or booster station? Once you have that, you've a decent chance of isolating the numbers of the people involved and identifying them. Granted, it's a bit Orwellian, but the benefits would seem to hugely outweigh the drawbacks.

mcgratheoin · 24-09-2010 12:32AM

Cabaal wrote: »

When I first moved down to waterford they had a old cycle track in the people's park, I always found it amussing that they also had a no bikes sign up at every extrance as well though.
:rolleyes:

Yeah, Waterford native myself, and really disappointed that the opportunity wasn't availed of to create something unique when they renovated the park and removed the track.

mcgratheoin · 24-09-2010 12:36AM

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Am hoping there could be a silver lining in here and plans made to build an indoor track.

Never in a million years. We (athletics community) have been waiting for an indoor track for the last 30 years and you only have to read an Ian O'Riordan column to see how likely that is.

PS No disrespect to Nenagh Olympic who built their own club facility - without which there would be no track at all!

victorcarrera · 24-09-2010 01:44PM

Shark_ wrote: »

This might be a knock on effect off a track invasion.We were racing one night a few weeks ago.A local lad not a kid, walked across the finishing straght as we were going for the sprint.He had to be persuaded with a push off the track.He then went on to assaulted a person that night.

That doesn't sound too good and has the potential to escalate into a them and us situation. Anyone using the track should be advised to have a passive approach to these confrontations.
Maybe what is needed is to get some of them on board in much the same way as boxing clubs do in many parts of the city to very good effect.
I think if the community liaison police officer organised an open day for some of the youths and give them a few competitive laps on recovered stolen bikes most of them will never be seen near the place again.
Who knows it might even catch on.
Re: the photos of the track. Most road racers I know wouldn't even bother to shout "hole" riding over those. A temporary repair with tarmac should suffice and open it up again until a permanent solution or location is found.

Lumen · 24-09-2010 01:47PM

victorcarrera wrote: »

That doesn't sound too good and has the potential to escalate into a them and us situation. Anyone using the track should be advised to have a passive approach to these confrontations.
Maybe what is needed is to get some of them on board in much the same way as boxing clubs do in many parts of the city to very good effect.
I think if the community liaison police officer organised an open day for some of the youths and give them a few competitive laps on recovered stolen bikes most of them will never be seen near the place again.
Who knows it might even catch on.

If that fails, can we set them on fire?

Harrybelafonte · 24-09-2010 02:04PM

victorcarrera wrote: »

That doesn't sound too good and has the potential to escalate into a them and us situation. Anyone using the track should be advised to have a passive approach to these confrontations.
Maybe what is needed is to get some of them on board in much the same way as boxing clubs do in many parts of the city to very good effect.
I think if the community liaison police officer organised an open day for some of the youths and give them a few competitive laps on recovered stolen bikes most of them will never be seen near the place again.
Who knows it might even catch on.
Re: the photos of the track. Most road racers I know wouldn't even bother to shout "hole" riding over those. A temporary repair with tarmac should suffice and open it up again until a permanent solution or location is found.

As was said previously efforts had already been made to include local kids. This isn't going to put certain elements off, they won't really care.

Maybe roadies wouldn't be bothered, but it's not a road and a decent, fast surface is very important. If the committee say it needs to be fixed then it needs to be fixed.

victorcarrera · 24-09-2010 02:46PM

Lumen wrote: »

If that fails, can we set them on fire?

LOL. Patience man, you are about 50 years before your time, think civil liberties brigade etc. We have to wait until it gets really out of hand and then we will have a NAMA for gurriers that will dispose of the toxic undesireables. Although I think bullets and dogfood would be more ecofriendly.

droidus · 24-09-2010 02:53PM

Or maybe 70 years after his time?

victorcarrera · 24-09-2010 03:07PM

droidus wrote: »

Or maybe 70 years after his time?

Well it worked back then from what the elders tell us.
You only have to see whats happened in the drugs trade over the last 30 years as an example of a lightly regulated crime. It is now regulating itself on the streets of dublin with the gun. The end result is the same. But good people have to suffer a lot during the long wait.

Hungrycol · 24-09-2010 05:29PM

victorcarrera wrote: »

LOL. Patience man, you are about 50 years before your time, think civil liberties brigade etc. We have to wait until it gets really out of hand and then we will have a NAMA for gurriers that will dispose of the toxic undesireables. Although I think bullets and dogfood would be more ecofriendly.

That has to be the quote of the day! Utter brillance!

Slideshowbob · 25-09-2010 08:39AM

Actually anyone know why eamon ceant park is so called?

Was he affiliated with sports particularly?

Or when was cycle track first installed in park?

Any particular reason? For any one event?

Didn't coppi race there?

ROK ON · 25-09-2010 09:42AM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Actually anyone know why eamon ceant park is so called?

Was he affiliated with sports particularly?

Or when was cycle track first installed in park?

Any particular reason? For any one event?

Didn't coppi race there?

I wouldnt be surprised if he had no involvement at all with cycling/ Lots of sports grounds, parks etc are callen after long dead patriots. I cant imagine that Charles Stewart parnell played much hurling or football (but I could be wrong).

Captain Havoc · 25-09-2010 11:00AM

Hungrycol wrote: »

That has to be the quote of the day! Utter brillance!

I think someone else had a similar idea to do away with "toxic undesirables", it didn't work out too good for him.

Slideshowbob · 26-09-2010 10:38AM

ROK ON wrote: »

I wouldnt be surprised if he had no involvement at all with cycling/ Lots of sports grounds, parks etc are callen after long dead patriots. I cant imagine that Charles Stewart parnell played much hurling or football (but I could be wrong).

I find it hard to believe with the cycling afficianaos among boards.ie that no one can elaborable on the history of the track as we are chatting about it and its continued merits!!

RobFowl · 26-09-2010 11:09AM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I find it hard to believe with the cycling afficianaos among boards.ie that no one can elaborable on the history of the track as we are chatting about it and its continued merits!!

Hi Bob
It's actually the park thats called after him. The track is called the Eamon Ceannt track simply because it is located in the park. It's also known as the Sundrive road track.

Eamon was the son of an RIC policeman who became involved in the Irish league. He was born in Galway but moved to Dublin when his father retired. He eventually became involved in the IRB and commanded the Marrowbone lane distillery during the 1916 rising one of only 2 sites that were not taken. He surrendered on the orders of Padraig Pearse and was executed in Kilmainham jail later in 1916 (aged only 34). The Irish league which involved the GAA was the body responsible for promoting cycling as a sport in the early years of the 20th century.
He was one of the the seven who signed the original proclamation of independence.
Here he is btw (last on the right).

http://www.iol.ie/~dluby/history.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cycling_tracks_and_velodromes

Slideshowbob · 26-09-2010 11:17AM

thanks Rob

Anyone know when track was first built? Who commissioned it? was it government wanted it built? or one of the cycling organisations? etc?

Was it built when there was a split in irish cycling? N(A)CA / CRE?

so did only 1 of them get to use it?

Did Coppi only come over once? any other big names ride it?

on semi related matters i see boardman (ex track olympian n all) bikes are to be used by Maxxiss team in states next year?

Back to topic - Do we throw all this history and the fortune that was spent of the resurfacing recently away because a few scumbags with a lighter got rubbed up the wrong way

papac · 26-09-2010 12:05PM

victorcarrera wrote: »

Well it worked back then from what the elders tell us.
You only have to see whats happened in the drugs trade over the last 30 years as an example of a lightly regulated crime. It is now regulating itself on the streets of dublin with the gun. The end result is the same. But good people have to suffer a lot during the long wait.

Yeah. Step up the war on drugs. Its so cheap and effective. Sure hasn't draconian prohibition worked brilliantly in the States. Millions in jail and the most drug related crime anywhere.
Drug abuse is a MEDICAL issue. Treating it as a crime is what has guns on the street.

I feel sick about what happened to the track btw. Was hoping to get a shot on it this year.

ROK ON · 26-09-2010 12:08PM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

thanks Rob

Back to topic - Do we throw all this history and the fortune that was spent of the resurfacing recently away because a few scumbags with a lighter got rubbed up the wrong way

In fairness Bob, while the history of the place has merit, it matters little when we consider the act of vandalism that recently occurred.

If the track was new and had no history, it would still be a shame that it would be vandalised.

I passed by the place a few times and always thought that it looked like a lovely facility. Hopefully the funding will be found to bring the track back to the condition necessary.
Regarding the future safety of the track, well I am afraid that that they only way that could be achieved is a walled stadium unfortunately.

Slideshowbob · 26-09-2010 12:15PM

i dont think a walled stadium would be a possible there

among other things, such as cost and merit, it would need to project 10feet or so above the highest level of the track, this would vastly compromise the aesthetics of the park, hence I doubt it would get past planning.

perhaps better community relations is the way to go

I was at an event earlier this year and lads were having natural breaks in sight of any passer by in the park, hardly enamouring locals!

shouldnt it be a requirement that a portaloo be brought in for certain events?

Dr_Colossus · 26-09-2010 08:55PM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I was at an event earlier this year and lads were having natural breaks in sight of any passer by in the park, hardly enamouring locals!

shouldnt it be a requirement that a portaloo be brought in for certain events?

Presumed organised track meats would have use of the facilities beside the astro turf pitch. Don't know if there was previously an actual club house or what the facilities were but it does look like they're currently building an actual complex with proper facilities. There's a good few facilities in the park with the astro turf pitch, basketball and tennis courts, cycling track and a number of soccer pitches so stands to reason that there would be proper changing facilities, showers and toilets and that's what looks like that's currently being built.

kumate_champ07 · 27-09-2010 02:23AM

really pissed off about this. recently bought a very nice track frame to build up for racing, now Ive no where to bring it. I live close to this park but had only seen the racing there once and was getting ready for the next season.

on a humorous note, maybe something like this would keep the scum out

Dura Ace · 27-09-2010 08:24AM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Did Coppi only come over once? any other big names ride it?

Coppi didn't race on this track. It was Morton Stadium in Santry where he raced.

Sundrive Track Vandalised

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