A sod turning ceremony has been held to mark the beginning of construction on a major improvement project at Kilbogget Park, Co Dublin.

This project will involve the rejuvenation of pitches and running track, improving the facilities for GAA, Football and Athletics clubs.

Welcoming the Kilbogget sports upgrades, Councillor Mary Hanafin, Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said: "The clubs in Kilbogget Park provide a wonderful environment for young people to enjoy their favourite sports & also to excel at the highest national levels. I pay warm tribute to the club boards, committees and volunteers who make such an immense contribution to the quality of life in our county. This development will lead to further accomplishments of the clubs through their use of the enhanced facilities."

This new investment elevates the park's status even further and will include:

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• Conversion of the current 1970s grit running track to a modern running surface, also enabling possible further upgrades in the future.

• The football pitch in the centre area of the running track and main GAA pitch will have extensive drainage works carried out together with a complete resurfacing with high quality turf to make the facilities playable all year around.

• In addition, both GAA clubs will benefit from an expanded, resurfaced senior grade GAA pitch to championship standards, with state-of-the-art flood lighting.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said: "These important works by our Parks Section in Kilbogget Park form part of a series of sports facility improvements being undertaken by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council with assistance from the Department of Sports through their Sports Capital Programme. An additional four pitches will also be subject to significant upgrade works throughout the county in 2023. Per head of population, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown has the highest rate of sports participation in the country. Our vision as outlined in our sports facilities strategy is to provide facilities for sport and physical activity that are well maintained, sufficient in number and accessible to as many local people as possible. Our primary focus is to enable participation by as wide a cross section of the population across a diverse range of sports. We are achieving this through our relationships and interactions with local sporting clubs, regional and national sporting organisations, schools, community groups and our dlr Leisure facilities."