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EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

The team behind Killarney’s new micro track are asking the people to remain patient as they prepare for the track’s official opening.

Construction is all but finished at the New Road amenity, perimeter fencing and goalposts were due to be installed this week and Moloney Construction are in the process of completing tasks on the snag list – a normal process in any building project.

It was hoped that the facility would be officially opened next month and that it would be possible to allow sports clubs and individuals to pre-book slots at the track which also boasts an astro-pitch and a basketball court. The track’s floodlights were successfully tested on Monday.

However, new COVID-19 regulations have thrown their plans into disarray. With the situation changing every day they have been forced to delay plans until they get a better idea on how they might be able to accommodate and manage large groups.

Plans for an official opening, which was to include a list of big name Irish athletes, have been put on hold.

Officials are also waiting on Department of Education guidelines as the facility was always going to be made available to local schools free of charge.

“Bear with us,” fundraiser Jerry Griffin told the Killarney Advertiser. “We are a group of volunteers and without the work of these volunteers there is no way we would be where we are today. This facility will be open to every club in Killarney but we are trying to set up a proper booking system – we don’t have a receptionist waiting at the other end of the phone – and all that is up the air with the virus. Please be patient with us, delaying the opening is the sensible thing to do.”

Fundraising for the €140,000 project remains on-going via Killarney Micro Track’s GoFundMe page.