The University of Limerick is to build a new £11 million indoor sports centre on the campus. Site clearance has started for the multi-purpose complex, which is being privately funded with no Government grant aid.
It will have four basketball arenas and a sprint track, and will be one of the most modern in Britain or Ireland.
The university authorities are also seeking the national 50metre swimming pool, but are prepared to proceed with their own if unsuccessful.
A spokesman for the college stressed that they were not grant-aided and everything was being done by private funding.