Cushinstown AC have enjoyed great success in their 50 years
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Cushinstown AC’s magnificent facilities.Image 2 of 2
Some of the hard working Cushinstown AC committee include (from left) Phelim Joyce, Dessie Gough, Annemarie Grehan, Paula White, Deirdre Rohan, Edel Gavin, Eva Hetherton, Aileen Quinn, Suzanne Bellew, Edell Lenehan and Tony O’Sullivan. Not in the photo are Aoife Lenehan, Sandra Callaghan and Ronan Barry.ATHLETICS
Cushinstown AC have started their 50th anniversary with their first inter-county competition of the year.
Over 380 entries covering 16 clubs took part in a range of events from sprints, jumps and throws in a fun and competitive environment.
Cushinstown will be holding further sports competitions throughout the year with the next event, a 50th anniversary outdoor sports day in April.
Cushinstown AC began its journey in the early 1970s with the aim of involving girls more in sport.
The founding members never rested in developing the club and as time passed the club worked towards developing their own athletic complex.
Cushinstown AC developed a running track, athletic facilities and dressing rooms, with works beginning in the summer of 1985 and the facility was opened on 29th April 1990. The club’s vision continued and with the help of many different committees, club members, volunteers, local community, neighbours and friends the club kept growing and now they have a facility of over 1400 sqm.
We have had success at county, regional and national level and following the first national title in 1979 the club has gone to produce numerous national champions.
Cushinstown AC have had athletes who have represented the club and Ireland at six Olympic and para-Olympic games from 1996 to 2016. Starting with Sean Cahill in Atlanta in 1996, to Lisa Callaghan in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, Heather Jameson in London 2012 and Paul Keoghan in Rio 2016.
The club have enjoyed pentathlon and hepthalon and hurdle success with Elizabeth Morland, Shannon Sheehy and Grainne Redmond representing Ireland at World and European Junior, Youths and Under-20s levels. They have also have had many athletes who competed in the Celtic Games and other international events.
The club continues to strive to improve their facilities with the ongoing venture being a new fitness studio/sensory room.
The overall vision is to address inequalities in sports participation ensuring quality and accessible for all groups. The club will also emphasise the virtue of collaboration between sporting bodies NGBs, LSPs and clubs and between sport and other policy sectors in the development and promotion of participation initiatives.
Cushinstown AC have collaborated with local sport clubs, GAA, LFGA and soccer from local parishes who have had the use of their facilities for many years. They deliver activity programmes to help teenagers to continue to participate in sport and hopefully reduce the level of dropout in the teenage years.
As a club Cushinstown have changed lives through sport and have driven gender equality by encouraging women in sport to act as role models and show men and women as equals.
Athletics is a sport for life, and you can be involved in any aspect of your local club at any stage and age.