Shannonside Recreational Campus Takes Major Stride Forward in Design
The Shannonside Recreational Campus (SRC) has entered an exciting new phase of development following the announcement of €15.3 million in PEACEPLUS funding for the Shannonside Peace Arena for a transformative shared space that will serve communities across Leitrim and the wider Upper Shannonside region along with funding from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund and the Community Sports Facility Fund.
The SRC represents one of the most significant investments in sports, recreation, and shared community infrastructure ever secured for this region. It builds on over ten years of visioning, planning, advocacy, collaboration, community support and fundraising that allowed the project to get underway and secure access to grant funding.
From its earliest beginnings, the project has grown into a regional movement supported by the Shannonside Regional Recreational Campus Committee (SRRC), hundreds of volunteers, sporting organisations, community groups, and local businesses. Over the years, the SRRC committee and Leitrim County Council has delivered a comprehensive suite of preparatory work: design development, planning applications, business planning, governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and communications platforms.
This sustained community and council-led effort has been critical to bringing the project, now, to the cusp of construction.
As seen in the progress video on the Leitrim County Council website and social media platforms, the Shannonside Peace Arena is designed as a fully inclusive, accessible, and cross-community space, aligning with the core aims of the PEACEPLUS Programme — to build peace, strengthen relationships, and create welcoming environments where people of all backgrounds can come together.
SEUPB CEO Gina McIntyre noted that shared spaces like the Peace Arena “act as beacons of hope within communities… their impact goes far beyond bricks and mortar.” Local and national leaders echoed this sentiment during the official launch on 13th February 2025, calling the project a transformative investment in community wellbeing, cohesion, and regional development.
While the site may appear quiet, progress is accelerating behind the scenes. Following a public tender process, McAdam Design Ltd, one of Ireland’s leading multidisciplinary built design consultancies, has been appointed as Design Team Lead for the design and construction management stages, with an extensive track record delivering major leisure and community infrastructure projects.
Their work refines the layout of pitches, the athletics track, the indoor arena, and the wider campus environment to ensure the SRC is functional, welcoming, and future-proofed for generations to come.
As the project moves into its next stage —construction procurement— the SRRC and Leitrim County Council will continue to share updates and engage with the public.
For now, the message is clear: a transformative, landmark facility for sport, wellbeing, and community life in the Shannonside region is no longer a distant vision, but a project firmly on its way to becoming reality. 
