The Dublin GAA County Board has secured final planning approval for a landmark new high-performance training centre in south Dublin, with An Coimisiún Pleanála upholding the decision to grant permission despite objections from local residents.

The ruling confirms that the proposed “GAA cluster facility” at the site of the existing Spawell Sports and Leisure Centre in Templeogue can proceed, subject to compliance with a series of planning conditions.

The development is located just east of Junction 11 of the M50, a strategic position offering strong transport connectivity across the county. It is also close to St Judes, Faughs and Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA Clubs.

The Commission rejected multiple appeals against the original decision by South Dublin County Council, including a submission from the Orwell Park Residents Association. In its determination, the planning authority concluded that the project would deliver “a high-quality sports facility for the wider South County Dublin community” and would not seriously injure the residential amenities of the area.

Major Infrastructure Investment

The approval marks a significant step forward in Dublin GAA’s long-term infrastructure strategy. The 13.8-hectare site was acquired by the county board for more than €9 million in 2017 and has been earmarked as a centralised training and development base for several years.

Central to the new development will be three floodlit GAA pitches, complete with electronic scoreboards and dugouts, alongside a new indoor training facility. A fourth pitch is already under construction on the grounds of a former pitch-and-putt course within the wider site.

Plans also include a 500-seat covered stand, flanked by two uncovered terraces capable of accommodating an additional 500 spectators, creating capacity for 1,000 attendees at showcase fixtures and development games.

A new pavilion will form the heart of the complex, featuring 10 changing rooms, shower facilities, a gym, dining room, meeting space, physio and first aid facilities, and a dedicated medical room. The scale and scope of the building reflect the increasing professionalisation of inter-county preparation and player welfare.

It will also provide a state of the art training base for all Dublin teams, something the county has never previously enjoyed at one dedicated location.

Funding Backed by Government Support

The project has already secured a €7 million allocation under the Government’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, underlining its strategic importance within the national sporting landscape.

The scheme will also see the demolition of the existing golf driving range and the partial loss of indoor and outdoor soccer pitches at the Spawell complex. However, the planning authority concluded that the overall sporting benefit and community gain outweighed these changes.

Community and Environmental Considerations

In addressing the appeals, An Coimisiún Pleanála determined that the development would not have a detrimental impact on biodiversity, road safety or the established character of the area.

Additional elements designed to broaden community use include a 105-metre L-shaped hurling wall, an all-weather sprint training area, and a 1.32-kilometre walking and jogging trail. These features signal an intent to create a year-round, multi-purpose sports campus rather than a facility limited solely to elite inter-county squads.

The integration of public-facing amenities may also help position the site as a regional hub for participation, coaching education, and potentially commercial or partnership activations.

Strategic Significance

The approval removes a major hurdle in delivering what is likely to become one of the most advanced county training centres in Ireland. In a competitive inter-county environment where marginal gains are increasingly decisive, investment in infrastructure, sports science and player welfare has become central to sustained success.

For the wider sports sector, the decision reinforces the importance of long-term planning, community engagement and compliance in delivering large-scale projects in urban environments.

With planning certainty now in place and grant funding secured, attention will turn to phased delivery and the timeline for full operational use — a development that will be watched closely across the GAA and beyond.

From a Sport for Business perspective, the development represents a notable example of blended investment, combining county board capital, central government funding, and long-term asset planning to create a multi-use, high-specification facility.

 

 

Image Credit: Sport for Business

 

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