The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) today reaffirmed its strong support for the development of Ireland’s first permanent Olympic‑standard ice facility at Cherrywood, South Dublin as proposed by Prime Arena Holdings – About Dublin Arena — Prime Arena Holdings.
Speaking today, Olympic Federation of Ireland CEO, Peter Sherrard said,
“This major investment, a significant majority of which would be privately funded, would be a transformational step for Irish winter sport and aligns directly with core objectives of the OFI Winter Sports Strategy and the Government’s National Sport policy.
“Ireland is the only country in the EU with a population of over 1m without a permanent ice facility. Besides major economic returns for the area, the proposed Cherrywood complex would provide essential access for grassroots and high‑performance athletes, while also serving as a major venue for concerts, events, and community sport, enabling year‑round participation, athlete development, and international competitiveness.”
Beyond its importance for sport, the facility will provide major benefits for tourism and the local economy as evidenced by the two very successful permanent ice facilities in Belfast, a city less than half the size of Dublin. Importantly, the returns generated to the local economy will be significantly in excess of any proposed State contribution. The Dublin Arena is expected to bring over 1m annual visitors contributing over €230m to the local economy, creating significant employment locally during the build and operational phase, and becoming a national and international driver of tourism for the entire region.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland, which represents 43 Olympic sports, looks forward to engaging constructively with all stakeholders to help bring this much needed sports infrastructure facility and driver for the local economy to fruition.