Two top Dublin sports clubs plan major renovations

Two of Dublin's best-known sports clubs were the subject of planning applications for multimillion pound renovations in the past few weeks.

Killiney Golf Club, on the southside of the city, and the Public Service/Telecom Sports Club, at Furry Park in Cloghran, on the northside, have developed ambitious plans to upgrade and expand their services for members.

Killiney Golf Club has applied to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for permission for a £1.5 million redevelopment and alterations to its existing club house and outbuildings at Ballinclea Road.

The development involves the demolition of an existing two-storey steel and brick building which was added to the clubhouse about 20 years ago and which is now to be replaced by a building more in keeping with the character of the original house, which dates from the early 1900s.

The new clubhouse will provide more ordered accommodation for the members, according to the club secretary/manager, Michael Walsh. The building, which is to be basically T-shaped, will retain the facade and roof of the original two-storey clubhouse at the top of the "T" alongside a new two-storey extension.

The rest of the building will incorporate relocated locker rooms and an expanded kitchen, while there will also be room in the main house for a conference room and offices. The entrance to the building is to be relocated to the north facade and the driveway is to be realigned to reflect this. Various single storey outbuildings, which currently house offices, are to be demolished. They will be replaced by a series of single and single-storey over basement extensions off the existing clubhouse, with a two-storey extension off the east facade.

Killiney Golf Club celebrates its centenary in two years time and the work is expected to be completed in time for the celebrations.

According to Mr Walsh, the resulting clubhouse will be easier for staff to manage, will provide extra space and better design for the members and will look more sympathetic to the period feel of the original building.

On the other side of the city, at the Old Airport Road, Cloghran, the Public Services/Telecom Sports Club has also applied for permission for a major overhaul of its facilities at its Furry Park site.

The work involves building a 25-metre swimming-pool, a bowling alley and car-parking at its 13 hectare site.

The application, which was submitted to Fingal County Council in the last few weeks, envisages the swimming-pool extension to the west of the existing building. It will also have leisure facilities and changing rooms.

The club is also planning to develop offices, a bar, restaurant, and new entrance with a floor area of 3,630 sq m and a roof height of about 12 m above ground level.

To the south of the existing building, the new bowling alley will have 10 lanes and a floor area of 1,039 sq m, with the roof height about 5.5 m above ground level.

The club also plans revisions to existing building to accommodate the new extensions.

The application covers retention of alterations to the approved car-parking at the clubhouse and the layout of a bowling green. A machinery shed will be provided to the north of the site.