The Tralee-based club has used the facility since 2019.
The damaged roof of Tralee Sports Complex. Photo Mark O’Sullivan.
Tralee Badminton Club at Tralee Sports Complex.
Some members of Tralee Badminton Club.
Tralee Badminton Club is looking for a new home after the shocking collapse of the Tralee Sports Complex roof early last Monday morning.
The sports complex is home to Tralee badminton since 2019 where over 200 club members, representing senior and junior, use the facility twice a week.
Club personnel Yvonne Burgin, Jill Redmond, and Michelle Corr said they were left devastated when news of the disaster filtered through to them on Monday.
Yvonne explained this reaction is more for the management and staff at Tralee Sports Complex, who have always made Tralee Badminton Club feel welcome and at home.
Thankfully, the club has since been able to find a hall to facilitate its senior players but, as yet, is unable to locate a venue to support its juvenile section.
“It was catastrophic what happened and it really was a miracle that no one was in the building at the time,” said Yvonne.
“The complex has been our home since we first formed as a club and it’s devastating not to have it anymore. Finbar [Griffin] and his staff have been so good to us,” she added.
“As of yet we haven’t been able to secure a venue for our junior club so we’re still waiting with the hope that someone will come back to us with the offer of a home, at least to finish out the season,” Yvonne said.
The club must now plan ahead for a venue of its own as there is no specific timeline as to when Tralee Sports Complex will be rebuild.
“This is something we must now look at: a place of our own,” she said.
“The complex is so important for the town of Tralee as it is constantly busy with all kinds of sports. The hall was particularly busy. It’s a huge loss to the town. The complex needs to be back up and running. If that means support from government funding, all the better,” Yvonne added.
You can get in touch with Tralee Badminton Club via its Facebook page.
2025-01-11 08:03:00