Olympic Federation of Ireland backs plans for €190m winter sports arena in Dublin
THE OLYMPIC FEDERATION of Ireland (OFI) has declared its full support for the construction of the country's first winter sports arena in Dublin.
Projected to cost €190 million to build, plans were unveiled last month by Prime Arena Holdings, the company behind the idea, which is expected to submit official planning documents in September.
Named the Dublin Arena, it will be located at an eight-acre site in Cherrywood, south Dublin.
OFI chief Peter Sherrard says the arena will raise the ambition of Irish winter athletes.
'This project represents a step-change for winter sports in Ireland,' he said.
'Ireland has immense untapped potential in winter disciplines, and this development offers the facilities, vision and scale to turn that potential into performance.'
Advertisement
Prime Arena Holdings promises the arena will bring 'significant social, economic, and cultural benefits' to the surrounding area, including the generation of €230 million in net new economic activity each year.
It will feature two Olympic-sized ice rinks, a 5,000-seat and 8,000-standing capacity for events, along with a high-performance training centre for elite athletes.
Federation President Lochlann Walsh says the arena has been a long time coming.
'Dublin is the only EU capital without a permanent ice facility, a gap that has held back both grassroots participation and elite progress in winter sports.
'There's clear, unmet demand across Ireland', he said, adding: 'It's about opening pathways, expanding access, and creating a lasting legacy that reflects the full ambition of Irish sport, introducing the public to disciplines like figure skating, speed skating, curling, and sliding sports such as luge and bobsleigh.'
CEO of Prime Arena Holdings, Dermot Rigley, shared the scope of his company's vision for Irish winter sports when announcing the arena last month, describing it as 'a national landmark that will open up winter sports to every corner of Irish society'.
It is not only sports that will be accommodated under the plans. The arena is projected to host up to 70 events on an annual basis, including concerts, international exhibitions, and corporate events.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
25 minutes ago
- Agriland
2025 cattle export numbers approaching 250,000 head
2025 cattle export numbers to date are approaching 250,000 head, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). As of Sunday, May 25, a total of 247,000 cattle have been exported, which is an increase of 34,000 head of cattle or 16% on the same time last year. 76% of all cattle exports are calves, accounting for almost 188,000 head of total cattle exports. The table below details cattle exports by type in the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025: 2023 2024 2025 2023/25 2024/25 Calves 178,395 165,836 187,985 +5% +13% Weanlings 13,486 12,926 21,196 +57% +64% Stores 8,984 14,965 14,896 +66% – Adult Cattle 14,018 19,405 23,117 +65% +19% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +15% +16% Source: DAFM For the purpose of the table above, calves are classified as all cattle under six-weeks-of-age; weanlings are all cattle from six-weeks-of-age to six-months-of-age; store cattle are all cattle from six-months-of-age to 24-months-of-age; and adult cattle are all cattle from 24-months-of-age upwards. There are 16 main countries to which Irish cattle have been exported to this year. Spain, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland are the three largest market destinations followed by Italy, Poland, and Croatia. The table below details total Irish cattle export numbers by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025: Country 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 Spain 50,632 61,612 79,502 +29% The Netherlands 96,905 70,185 75,384 +7% Northern Ireland 20,053 21,188 27,899 +32% Italy 23,393 21,045 24,491 +16% Poland 10,369 10,992 20,296 +85% Croatia – 2,808 2,500 -11% Morocco – 7,322 2,302 -69% Great Britain 1,259 2,705 2,149 -21% Greece 770 1,607 1,989 +24% Algeria – 2,037 1,967 -3% Israel – 3,304 1,855 -44% Romania 1,859 4,691 1,479 -68% Hungary 3,047 2,601 1,117 -57% Portugal 239 – 1,063 – Tunisia 125 407 1,001 +146% Lithuania – – 907 – Other 6,232 628 1,293 +106% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +16% Source: DAFM This year has seen a firm trade for cattle with Northern Ireland, with exports of Irish cattle across the border up 31% to just under 28,000 head to date this year. Tighter supplies of cattle for slaughter and further feeding north of the border are some of the key factors understood to be attributing to the stronger export levels here this year. The table below details Irish calf exports by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025: Destination 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 The Netherlands 96,624 69,924 74,828 +7% Spain 45,665 55,782 65,701 +18% Poland 10,161 10,867 19,831 +82% Italy 17,760 15,251 15,476 +1% Northern Ireland 4,867 4,472 6,590 +47% Croatia – 2,478 1,970 -21% Romania 1,698 4,655 1,386 -70% Hungary 1,318 2,305 855 -63% Portugal – – 586 – Great Britain 2 1 486 – Lithuania – – 273 – Other 300 101 3 -97% Total 178,395 165,836 187,985 +13% Source: DAFM Market sources have told Agriland there is a growing number of beef-sired calves from the dairy herd being exported in line with calf availability. There is also a growing number of heifer calves being exported with 35,500 exported in the first 18 weeks of this year, up from the 16,300 heifer calves exported in the same time period last year.
Agriland
25 minutes ago
- Agriland
Talking crops' progress and the politics of tillage with IGGG
Irish Grain Growers' Group (IGGG) co-secretary Clive Carter is confident that his winter cereal crops have significant yield potential. According to Carter, this is a direct result of the tremendous start the crops received last autumn and the exceptional early spring growing conditions. The barley was sown out in mid-October and the oats a week later A mix of winter seed barley and gluten free winter oats is grown on the Carter farm, which comprises part of the former National Ploughing Championships' site at Ratheniska in Co. Laois. Carler told Agriland: 'This year we are growing a crop of Orcade winter barley: Enya is the winter oat option. 'Assuming the weather holds, we should be cutting barley around the middle of July. That's about a week earlier than would normally be the case. 'Again, weather permitting, our hopes are high that winter crops will yield well this year.' But it is a slightly different story where spring cereals are concerned. Clive is growing Husky as a spring gluten-free oat option, with Planet the malting barley variety used this year. He explained: 'The spring oats struggled during the recent dry spell. 'We are farming light land, which can dry out quite quickly. The yield potential of the oats was significantly impacted by the total lack of rain during the month of May. 'But we won't know the actual scale of the yield reduction until harvest time.' From an agronomy perspective, the spring crops will receive their final fungicide spray over the coming days. After that it is a case of seeing what the final harvest delivers. The politics of tillage IGGG's other co-secretary, Bobby Miller, was a recent visitor to the Carter farm. Miller told Agriland: 'Grain markets remain in the doldrums. 'Current grower prices are back at 1984 levels, which is totally unacceptable.' Miller acknowledged that winter crops continue to look well. However, the economic outlook for Irish tillage farmers remains exceptionally challenging. 'From a winter cereals' perspective, two of the three factors that combine to deliver true sustainability for grain growers have been in play up to this point: high yield potential and good weather,' he said. 'However, the missing factor is good prices. And the market outlook for the coming harvest is extremely bleak.' IGGG wants to see Irish cereal growers working in partnership with livestock farmers, grain merchants, and feed merchants to deliver equitable returns for all parties involved. Fast maturing winter oats on the Co. Laois farm of Clive Carter At the heart of this envisaged arrangement is a commitment to use Irish grain in ways that deliver sustainable prices for everyone growing and utilising homegrown cereals. According to Miller: 'Grain imports continue to increase. The latest figures would indicate that up to five million tonnes of grains and feed materials are imported into this country on an annual basis. 'A high percentage of these materials are coming from countries outside the European Union. In other words they are grown to standards that would not be permitted of Irish farmers.' Miller noted that genetically modified (GM) crops are also included within these imports. 'And, again, these are crops are not allowed to be grown in Europe,' he said. 'Not for one minute would Grain Growers countenance the production of GM crops in this country. 'However, Irish tillage farmers want a level playing field – this is only right and proper. And there is no reason why the Irish government cannot use tax incentives to help make this happen.' Sustainable tillage farming Miller said that ensuring the economic sustainability of the tillage sector will assist it in improving its sustainability in terms of environmental measures. 'If grain growers are making sustainable returns, then the target contained within the National Climate Action Plan can be met,' Miller stated. 'It envisages the expansion of the tillage sector to 400,000ha by 2030. However, if the crops' sector remains in the doldrums, all of this is just a pipe dream.' Turning to the current politics of tillage farming, the two IGGG representatives made a number of fundamental points. According to Clive Carter, the Food Vision Tillage Group has not met since last August. He stressed: 'This is disappointing, as has been the government's lack of response to the Tillage Vision Group report. 'Yes, we have seen moves made on the issue of noxious weeds. But even here, the outcomes to date have been underwhelming. 'Blackgrass has been officially declared a noxious weed. However, little or no checking of straw consignments coming in from England takes place at Irish ports. 'Imported straw and machinery continue to represent the most important sources of Blackgrass contamination impacting on this country.' Meanwhile, Bobby Miller pointed to the pre-election promises made to tillage farmers by the two main parties in the current government. Miller said: 'Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised an additional €300 million of support to the tillage sector during the lifetime of the current parliament. 'This works out at €60 million per annum. But, as yet, we have heard nothing about the ways in which this extra support funding will be spent.' IGGG is also campaigning to have the annual funding made available for the Straw Incorporation Measures to be increased from the current €10 million per annum threshold up to €15 million Clive Carter added: 'We believe there is scope to make this happen during the lifetime of the current CAP.' IGGG crops walk IGGG will host a crops walk on the farm of the Miller family at Rathcrea, Vicarstown, Co. Laois on Friday, 13 June. Events get underway at 10:45a.m. The guest speaker at the event will be Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Cowan.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry's Kennedy Cup set-up has novel father and son element to management and squad
Among the 20-man squad is the manager, Danny Diggins' son, Daniel, a commanding centre-back from St Brendan's Park, and also in the squad is Kian Cronin, son of assistant coach Ken Cronin Ten years after their historic Kennedy Cup triumph at the University of Limerick, Kerry's latest generation of young soccer players are preparing to make their mark. With the 2025 edition of the country's premier U14 boys competition just around the corner, anticipation is building once again as the Kingdom eyes another run at glory. The Kennedy Cup is the most prestigious competition for boys at U14 level in Irish football. Back in 2015, Kerry claimed the ultimate prize with a 1-0 win over the Dublin District Schoolboys League (DDSL) in a famous final that saw Mastergeeha's Dylan Murphy score the decisive goal. That DDSL side included future Republic of Ireland internationals Jason Knight and Nathan Collins, a testament to the calibre of player this competition often reveals. Now, a new Kerry squad is ready to showcase its talent on that same big stage.
