Athletics tracks in Ireland

There's a cinder track in Gormanston College, Co. Meath. I think Dunleer AC in Louth have a 400m track, it could be tarmac though so that probably doesn't count.

Galway has Dangan, there is also a grit/cinder track at the pitches in Westside, not sure what length, but think it's 400m.
Not sure outside of that as anything in the county tends to focus on use of Dangan.
Mayo has Claremorris, and there used to be a grit track in Westport around the soccer pitch - don't think its full 400m though. A similar grit track used to exist in Ballina when I was younger, no idea what currently exists.

Jnealon wrote: »

Cinder tracks in Lucan and Dunboyne. I agree the cinder is a nightmare to train on in the winter with clothes getting destroyed. The track turns to mush after a heavy shower and if it freezes you're left with a hard lumpy surface thats dangerous to train on.

Sure you do be out front so you have no spray coming at you:D

ecoli wrote: »

Off the top of my head others that come to mind

Dublin
Lucan, ALSAA, Sundrive (I think?),

Meath
Navan

Kildare
Newbridge

Wicklow:
Greystones

Sligo:
IT

Cork:
CIT
UCC Mardyke

Limerick:
UL

Kilkenny:
KCH track

Tipperary:
Nenagh (Indoor)
Templemore

Donegal:
Finn Valley track

Offaly:
Tullamore

Westmeath:
Athlone

Kerry:
Castleisland

Clare
Ennis: Lees Road & Fairgreen

Galway
NUIG

Waterford
RSC Track

Cavan
Shercock AC Track

Antrim:
Mary Peters
Antrim Forum

Westmeath:
Athlone IT (indoor and outdoor)

Donegal has a second track in Letterkenny too

ecoli wrote: »

You wouldn't have a smiley face training on them in the winter months absolutely destroying clothes with the grit kick back in wet weather. Think I had to throw out more t shirts growing up than most people go through in a running career

I prefer the cinder in winter to summer, as there is less dust and more grip. Simple solution for you: don't wear a t-shirt!

To get back to your question Ray: The grit track isn't very forgiving/yielding, whereas a tarmac surface would at least have some 'give'. A tarmac track would of course be more costly, harder to maintain, and less hard-wearing (it's hard to destroy grit!). Another problem with tarmac tracks is that they melt, when a burning car or wheelie-bin is set alight on top of them. The cinder seems to survive better.

meathcountysec wrote: »

Meath Tracks

Navan (Navan AC)
Bohermeen (Bohermeen AC)
Ratoath (Ratoath AC)
Dunboyne (Duboyne AC)
Athboy (Fr. Murphy AC)
Cushinstown (Cushinstown AC)
Skryne (Tara AC)
Ashbourne (St. Andrews AC)
Gormanston (Star of the Sea AC)

Meath wins! One track for every 20,459 people will be hard to beat.

RayCun wrote: »

So, cinder or tarmac, what are the pros and cons?

(no, I didn't just win the lottery )

I’d think I’d rather a proper tarmac/asphalt track over a cinder one, with a proper tarmac track it’s easier to upgrade to tartan or mondo track
Tarmac is more responsive, easier to keep clean and much more durable
The guys in Leixlip would know more about this as they trained on a tarmac track for close to a year

During the dry summer months the cinder gets very dusty, this can be a challenge when you are doing drills with a group of 30 kids
Also after a shower this fine dust gets washed in to the ground and over time clogs the drainage and also causes the ground to become very compact/hard, I’m not sure if this happens on all cinder tracks or is just unique to ours

Kids Falling on cinder can be quite nasty especially when they are only wearing shorts and t-shirts,

A freshly brushed, slightly damp cinder track is great to train on but given our climate and our ability to maintain it, these days are quite rare

snailsong wrote: »

In Mayo there's an excellent tartan track in Claremorris, newly done up with new flood lights, parking etc. They also have an indoor 60 metre track. In Castlebar there's a tartan track around the soccer pitch. I don't know the length. In Westport we have a 320 metre grit track, much used. Don't know what's in Ballina or elsewhere.

Grit track in Ballina also, 400m.