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Our Mission
Lifford AC is based in the town of Lifford, the capital town of Donegal. The town is situated at the confluence
of three rivers, the Finn, The Mourne and the Foyle, rivers which separate the town from its natural hinterland in Strabane,
Co. Tyrone.
Our club has a wide catchment area and has traditionally drawn its athlete and support base from the town of Lifford,
stretching along the Foyle to Porthall, St. Johnston and Carrigans, to Raphoe through Ballindrait, and along the Finn towards
Castlefin.
Our gym membership stretches even further afield and across the border into Strabane, Donemana and Castlederg.
Our club covers all categories of athlete, from the budding juvenile, right up to Senior and Masters. We are an
all embracing club and welcome athletes regardless of their creed, race, gender, age or ability. It is this ethos which
has contributed to the club's strength and success down through the years.
Our History
Lifford Athletic Club was formed in 1968 and has had a long and distinguished history in the promotion and development
of athletics in Donegal, Ulster and Ireland for four decades. The first meeting of the club was held at the Elm Bank
in Lifford on the 25th June 1968. Those present on that historic occasion were Christy Kearns, Ben O'Donnell, Michael
McGill, Sean Boyle and Thaddeus Herron.
Initially, training and competitons were held at the local Gaelic fields. In 1971, the club committee had the foresight
to purchase several acres of land on which the current facilities now stand. In 1972, the club embarked on an ambitious
project, to lay an all weather track in Lifford, the first of its kind outside the Billy Morton Stadium in Santry, home of
Clonliffe Harriers.
During the 1970's, Lifford was the home for Donegal and Ulster athletics, with many high profile competitons up to All
Ireland level held at the venue.
In 1972, the club laid an all weather cinder running track, the first of its kind outside the Morton Stadium in Dublin.
Throughout the 1970's and 80's club athetes enjoyed considerable success at provincial and national level, with several club
athletes representing Ireland on international teams.
In 1987, the club laid tartan high jump, javelin, and long jump facilities, the first of their kind in Donegal.
During the late 1990's, a small number of high profile athletes carried the mantle for the club, with no juvenile members
involved. In 1999, a new club committee was formed and has successfully reignited the development of athletics in the
town. Major infrastructural developments have been carried out in the last decade including the drainage, resurfacing
and floodlighting of the track, the building of new dressing rooms, a gym and fitness suite, and the development of a new
tartan track under way.
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