Dome is 'back big time' following momentous restoration works
Pictured alongside the AirDome at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan is Connacht GAA CEO John Prenty.
The Dome is back big time” said John Prenty, secretary of Connacht GAA, who says the facility has been “very, very busy” since it was re-installed in Bekan earlier this year.
“We had 700 kids from Galway schools last weekend and we have 90 kids using the Dome tonight,” Mr Prenty explained to the Western People.
The facility, which remains unique in the country, has brought welcome passing trade to retailers and restaurants in Ballyhaunis.
Mr Prenty said his management team plans to “tidy up the car parks” near the road to expand the capacity. While he does hope to test the concert market, there remains a “fair bit of thinking” to be done in regard to how this would be done.
While the structure is very similar to the Dome that was blown down in Storm Éoywn, in this iteration of the Dome the lighting is on the ground. Also, the structure can be deflated very quickly.
The Centre of Excellence has become a popular destination for walkers and the woodland paths have been very popular with locals, many of whom go to the Centre of Excellence to walk after dropping their kids at school, Mr Prenty said.
