A €3.3 million extension to Leixlip Amenities Centre has demonstrated how targeted finance, specialist banking expertise and a strong community organisation can combine to deliver new local capacity with lasting social value. AIB supported the project with €2.1 million in Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) backed green finance over a 10-year term.
“We are delighted to support Leixlip Amenities Centre as it invests in modern, sustainable facilities for a growing community,” says Niall Morrissey, AIB head of business banking capital markets, Dublin South, West, Wicklow and Kildare. “This expansion shows what can be achieved when a committed local organisation, specialist sector expertise and long-term finance come together.
“AIB Business Banking works closely with customers to understand their ambitions and provide the funding and practical support they need to invest and grow,” he continues. “In this case, that investment will benefit not only the organisation and its members, but also the many clubs, families and community groups that rely on the centre. It is a strong example of how backing a local enterprise can help build healthier, more connected and more sustainable communities.”
Founded in 1981, Leixlip Amenities Centre is located at Collinstown, Leixlip, on a 15 hectare (38-acre) campus. Its catchment extends beyond Leixlip to Celbridge, Maynooth, Lucan and surrounding communities that continue to experience population growth and rising demand for sport, recreation and wellbeing services. Individuals, couples, families, sports clubs and community organisations use the centre throughout the year.
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The centre offers a fully equipped gym, a high-performance training area and dedicated studios for exercise and wellness classes. Its indoor sports hall accommodates basketball, badminton, indoor soccer, gymnastics, martial arts and a variety of community activities. All-weather floodlit pitches support organised and recreational sport throughout the year, while meeting and activity rooms provide space for classes, events and local groups.
Long-standing links with local stakeholders, including Kildare County Council and major employers, strengthen the centre’s role as a venue for community engagement and active living. Beyond physical activity, the organisation has supported employment, training and skills-development initiatives, extending its social contribution to local people.
The organisation is overseen by a voluntary board, whose members contribute professional expertise and time. Its not-for-profit model means surpluses can be reinvested in facilities, services and community initiatives.
Membership now exceeds 2,600 people and is open to anyone aged 16 or over.
Designed to modernise the centre and accommodate growing demand from members, clubs and community groups, the extension has increased the premises by 82 per cent (1,772sq m) bringing the overall building to 3,933sq m, or approximately 42,300sq ft.
The centre sought term debt to help fund the extension, Morrissey explains. “We brought together our relationship management and sector teams, visiting the customer on site to understand the organisation, the proposed development and assist with guiding the application process.”
Following a series of meetings, site visits and the collection of the required information, AIB provided €2.1 million in SBCI-backed green finance over a 10-year term. “The funding was drawn in four stages as the development progressed, with support from a bank-appointed monitor,” he adds.
The completed extension has achieved a B building energy rating, reinforcing the project’s environmental credentials and helping create a more modern and efficient community facility.
“The phased structure matched finance to construction milestones, bringing oversight and certainty to a significant capital project while supporting the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability,” says Morrissey.
AIB Business Banking combines local relationship management with specialist sector expertise, helping customers assess opportunities, structure investment and navigate the lending process, he continues.
“Support can range from everyday banking and working-capital needs to larger investment projects, including facilities, equipment, expansion and sustainability improvements,” he explains. “For projects such as Leixlip Amenities Centre, on-site engagement allows our banking teams to understand the customer’s operating model, community purpose, sector dynamics and long-term ambitions, not simply the financial request.
AIB can also connect eligible customers with SBCI and government-backed finance, supporting investment in growth, resilience and the transition to more sustainable operations, Morrissey points out.
“Our relationship-led approach brings together financial analysis, sector knowledge and practical oversight. This can include phased drawdowns and project monitoring where appropriate. By backing viable organisations that create facilities, employment and services, business finance can have an impact far beyond the individual borrower, supporting stronger local economies, healthier communities and more sustainable regional development.
“Leixlip Amenities is an example of this multiplier effect,” he concludes. “Finance for one organisation has supported a larger, more energy-efficient facility that can be used by thousands of members as well as clubs, groups and partner organisations.”
