NOC IRELAND BACKS LANDMARK WINTER SPORTS ARENA PLANS
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) formally endorsed the proposed development of Ireland’s first Olympic standard winter sports and entertainment facility at Cherrywood, South Dublin.
The €190 million project, led by Prime Arena Holdings, represents a major advance in delivering on the goals of the OFI’s Winter Sports Strategy 2022–2026 with the potential to unlock new opportunities for athletes and communities across the country.
Following the 2022 launch of the Irish Winter Sports Strategy 2022–2026, a permanent ice facility was identified as a key objective. Featuring two Olympic-sized rinks and a flexible multi-purpose arena, the Cherrywood facility will support public access as well as elite training.
As the project proceeds, engagement with the Winter Sports Federations will be a key element in delivering a facility that supports the athletes, the growth potential and needs of the sports, as well as being a major driver for hospitality, entertainment and tourism for the region.
Endorsing the proposed development of Prime Arena Holdings, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Peter Sherrard, highlighted the wider benefits of this facility from a sporting perspective, said,
“This project represents a step-change for winter sports in Ireland. It aligns directly with our strategic goals to increase participation, enhance elite performance, and address the long-standing lack of national infrastructure in this area. Ireland has immense untapped potential in winter disciplines, and this development offers the facilities, vision and scale to turn that potential into performance.”
President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Lochlann Walsh, added,
“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. This new arena changes that. It’s about opening pathways, expanding access, and creating a lasting legacy that reflects the full ambition of Irish sport.”
