TICKNICK PARK

27/09/2023

In some of the images you may notice a chimney or tower in the distance ... it is a structure that marks the location of the Ballycorus Leadmines. In 1807, The Ballychorus Leadmine was built after a discovery in the 1770s that an additional quantity of lead could be extracted from a furnace if the vapors could be trapped long enough to precipitate the lead. A furnace was built at Ballychorus that was connected to the top of the hill by a 2km granite flue. This was designed to carry away the poisonous particles. The tower was originally one-third taller and is regarded to be the finest example in the UK and Ireland.

Ticknick Park is primarily intended to provide formal recreational facilities in the form of grass playing pitches.  The pitches will be (or have been) constructed to a high level of functionality and suitable for use all year round, due to a high-capacity drainage system. A path circuit around the playing pitches, is wide enough to accommodate maintenance and emergency vehicles. Adjacent to the pitches will be a changing facility with toilets and ancillary facilities, along with parking and turning space for coaches for team transport, as well as service vehicle access.  These will be accessed by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles via a route from the existing M50 Lehaunstown Lane bridge. Also included in the park layout is a maintenance facility for the whole of Cherrywood.

The importance of external and internal views within the park has been accounted for in the design.  Appropriate planting and the management of existing trees and vegetation (crown-lifting and thinning, pruning of vegetation) are proposed to maintain and enhance certain important views and vistas.

Ticknick Park is a 19-hectare park with:

• four grass pitches including a full GAA pitch
• ancillary facilities including seating, signage paths, cycle stands and soft landscaping
• single storey changing facility with four changing rooms
• toilet facilities, storage, ancillary accommodation
• cycle parking facilities
• Currently Ticknick Park is accessed via a pedestrian walkway via the agricultural bridge over the M50 utilising the shared pedestrian and cycle paths. Visitors travelling by vehicle should park in the temporary carpark which allows for 83 spaces, including four disabled user parking bays, three coach bays, and four motorcycle spaces.