Local Rugby Hero to open new facility in Tipperary's Canon Hayes Sports Centre

A new strength and conditioning facility will be officially opened in the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre in Tipperary Town on Tuesday next, November 28th at 6pm.

Local rugby hero Alan Quinlan will be on hand to cut the ribbon on this new development which has been funded through the Centre's Members Club Draw Promotion. Alan will also present Sports Scholarship Certificates to young emerging sporting talent and the final Members Club Draw for November, which has a top prize of a Ford KA, will take place.

The Chairman of the Canon Hayes Centre, Martin Quinn said that the new Strength and Conditioning facility will be a fantastic addition to our hugely impressive Sports Centre. It is equipped with a 3 bay rig including 18 monkey bars, battle rope, plyometric jump box heights of 20 inches, 24 and 30 inches, over 400kg of bumper plates and a 5 foot punch bag. The facility will be open to the general public and is ideal for anyone who has a passion for strength training and can also be booked exclusively for teams to train in and would be ideal for pre-season strength training which can help to build team spirit and camaraderie.

Martin said that this year is also very significant for the Sports Scholarship programme as it is 21 years since the initiative was introduced and Alan Quinlan was amongst the very first group of recipients. The Scholarship Programme was introduced with a view to giving something back to the communities that it serves. The Scholarship entitles the recipients to free use of all the facilities in the Centre and the adjoining Sean Treacy Swimming Pool, plus personal fitness advice and instruction. The Scholarship Programme is also of major significance to the recipients in the development of their sporting careers.

The Sports Centre Chairman says that the Centre has experienced difficult times and thanks the community for their continuing support particularly in relation to the Members Club Draw. "Along with the provision of the new Strength and Conditioning facility the Members Club promotion has enabled us to tend to repairs to the roof, to the upstairs balcony windows and grids and to maintenance of the Astro Turf/Hockey pitch. It has also allowed for the re-painting of the Main Hall and Ladies/Gents dressing rooms and for the purchase of equipment for children's parties". He added that continuing support is required as the running costs are extremely high and he hopes that this support will continue into 2018.