The rapid growth of padel tennis in Ireland is set to accelerate further with the announcement of a major new investment in a purpose-built indoor facility at Goffs, Co. Kildare.

Arena Padel, co-founded by former Republic of Ireland international Shay Given and entrepreneur Declan Fagan, has revealed plans for a €4 million, 45,000 sq. ft. centre of excellence set to open next year.

Planning permission has been submitted to Kildare County Council for what will become one of the most advanced indoor padel facilities in the country.

The development will feature nine championship-standard indoor courts, alongside a state-of-the-art “bio-circuit” gym in partnership with Technogym, and a suite of wellness and recovery rooms.

The ambition behind Arena Padel is to bring a world-class padel experience to Irish players of all levels, from first-timers to elite competitors.

“After retiring, I needed an outlet to keep my competitive juices flowing, and I found that in padel,” said Shay Given.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Padel can be played by people of all ages and skill levels.”

“We’ve founded Arena Padel to bring padel tennis to the masses by investing in purpose-built, modern sports arenas. We have found an ideal location in Goffs and can’t wait to start welcoming players early next year.”

Given and Fagan, both passionate padel players, developed the idea for Arena Padel through a shared vision of raising the sport’s profile and accessibility across Ireland.

“We were playing together last year and talked about how we could elevate the padel experience here,” said Declan Fagan.

“We wanted to create a truly premium offering, in a centre of excellence, at affordable prices, and open to everyone. Padel is continuing to grow globally, and the scale for growth in Ireland is palpable. We intend to create a facility that will still be cutting edge in 20 years’ time.”

The project will also have a positive economic impact locally, creating 30 new jobs upon launch.

The announcement comes at a time of growing momentum for the sport in Ireland.

This November, Limerick will host the first-ever Irish Open Padel tournament, marking a major milestone in the sport’s competitive development on home soil. With participation numbers climbing and investment increasing, padel is positioning itself as one of Ireland’s most exciting emerging sports.

 

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