2023
UCC opens state-of-the-art high-performance gym
- The new facility reflects UCC’s commitment to supporting and empowering the next generation of elite athletes and teams.
- The 420 m2 facility is a major boost for athletes and teams at national and international level.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD officially opened the new High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Gym at University College Cork’s (UCC) Mardyke Arena on Monday, 10 July 2023.
The High-Performance Gym aims to be a centre of excellence, dedicated to empowering athletes and teams to reach their highest potential. Through cutting-edge training, research, innovation, and holistic athlete development, the gym will provide student athletes and teams with the resources they need to excel on the national and international sports arena.
Opening the gym, Minister McGrath, Minister for Finance, said: “This new strength and conditioning gym here in UCC’s Mardyke Arena is really a magnificent achievement and I want to congratulate everyone in making this state of the art facility a reality. Sport can inspire a sense of hope, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential, both on and off the field. This gym will inspire a new wave of elite talent, shaping future leaders in the world of sports and beyond.”
Professor John O’Halloran, UCC President, said: “From our newest sports clubs through to high performance teams and athletes, UCC strives to make the university sporting experience inclusive to all by supporting ongoing participation and excellence: many tribes, one team. Today’s launch is not just about the bricks and mortar of a building. It is about the countless stories of triumph, resilience, and personal growth that will unfold within this space.”
John Mullins, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mardyke Leisure (UCC), said: “This new world class facility will not only provide huge opportunities for the university’s talented elite athletes and teams, but will also create significant opportunities for Cork and Munster elite athletes and teams to achieve their highest potential in the years ahead.”
The 420 m2 facility was designed by O’Connell Mahon Architects Cork and built by Summerhill Construction, with the support of UCC Buildings and Estates.
For over 110 years, the Mardyke has been a witness to local, national, and international sporting events. Since its official opening in 2001, the Mardyke Arena UCC has established itself as a truly world-class facility. It is a fitness and training home for all types of sportspeople at all ages, including many of Ireland’s elite athletes, thousands of UCC students and staff, and the local community.