Thornton Sports are absolutely delighted to announce that the Full Size GAA Pitch located in Clontarf Synthetic Park has been independently field tested by Labosports (the company who wrote the testing criteria for the GAA )and has successfully passed all its rigorous tests and inspections these included Ball Roll and Bounce for both Hurling and Football, Head impact Criteria, Vertical Deformation and Rotational Resistance.

This makes it the very first GAA pitch in the country to meet the associations own specific GAA code of compliance.

Athlone Institute of Technology’s FIFA 2 star Soccer pitch built by Thornton Sports recently underwent testing by international renowned test house Labosports.

The Synthetic Artificial Pitch has successfully maintained its FIFA 2 star licence for its second consecutive year. This is the only FIFA 2 Star venue in Ireland to ever do so, many fail as they are not able to match up to the demanding standards required. The College are extremely happy with this result, and are to be congratulated for all the hard work and careful maintenance to maintain the Pitch to the highest globally recognised standard.

“Thornton Sports are delighted to announce that we will be CO-Sponsors of the 2010 Multi Sports Conference on the 12 June 2010 City West Hotel tickets available through www.sporttracker.ie”

Paul Copage Managing Director Thornton Sports Ireland pictured with IRFU President John Callahan and Projects Manager Tony Geoghegan.

Photo taken at the launch of Munster’s First IRB/IRFU approved Full Size Synthetic Rugby Pitch. The pitch has already been used for an under 20’s game between Munster v London Irish and played host to the visiting Barbarians to train before they faced Ireland in Thomond Park.

Irelands largest single synthetic park has been completed and handed over to DCC. Comprising of a Full Size GAA code compliant pitch, a full size Soccer/Rugby pitch built to code and an additional 65m x 40m training area. The overall playing area is just shy of 25,000m2 it is a very welcome major sporting venue to the area. Built to accommodate various different sporting disciplines it is a excellent example of Planning, design and construction.

Athlone I.T. will be Irelands first Synthetic pitch to have been tested and passed a second consecutive FIFA 2 * award

Training pitch at Young Munster has successfully passed IRB/IRFU testing and is fully code compliant.

Garryowen RFC Full Size Rugby Pitch has successfully passed IRB/IRFU testing and is fully code compliant.

Work is due to commence early April on Limerick Country Boards centre of excellence at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale . The Park will have up to five full size pitches comprising of natural grass, sand based and synthetic grass pitches.

Well known to many as Roy Keane's club it was from Rockmount that the Irish legend launched his professional career. Thornton's are delighted to have been selected to build a synthetic training pitch which will complement the Clubs existing facilities.

Brent “gets to grips” with Thornton Sports latest in High Performance Synthetic grasses in the City West Hotel at the Launch of their new Website.

Brent a regular on RTE, was most impressed with Thornton's RT Real 65 Slide Pro and emphasized how as a former player and coach he feels it is vitally important to have a surface which is designed to protect players from serious injury which can in equal measure, perform to the highest levels of competitive Rugby.

The new athletics track at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) has been hailed as 'an outstanding facility' by former World and European champion, Eamonn Coghlan. He made the remarks at the official opening of the sporting facilities last Sunday.

It was 'a distinction and an honour' Mr Coghlan said to open the new 400m track, which has been approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body for track and field. The opening of the eight-lane running track was 'great for athletics in Ireland,' he added.

Highlighting the suite of sporting facilities at AIT, Mr Coghlan said that it was a major boost 'not just for students and staff, but also for the entire community in the area. It also opens the door for athletes who want to come here and train in Ireland in preparation for the London Olympics.'

Labosports the official test house of the FAI have certified that both Athlone Institute of Technology and Portlaoise Sports Centre have passed testing and will both be licensed FIFA 2 * venues making them two of only four to make the governing bodies prestigious list of international venues.

Thornton Sports Build Irelands first fully competitive IRB/IRFU approved synthetic Rugby pitch for UCD. Designed and built by the Thornton Sports for the college the Pitch is used on a regular basis by the ever growing Rugby population in South Dublin including many of the local schools and clubs but also several of the Leinster Rugby Squads and the Irish National Squad.

Botanic Hockey club are the first Hockey club in Ireland to have the latest in Hockey surfacing from leading Synthetic carpet manufactures Tiger Turf. Thornton Sports selected the TigerTurf Evolution surface, based on the excitement and rave reviews it has been receiving in the UK. England's premier hockey club, Cannock opened their Evolution Hockey Pitch in October 2007 and it is now rated as one of the best hockey Pitches in the U.K.