Dublin winter sport arena well supported

Article posted by Coliseum, January 23^rd, 2026

Image: Prime Arena Holdings

Prime Arena Holdings is planning to develop a 6,000-seat indoor arena with two Olympic-sized ice rinks on an eight-acre site in Cherrywood, Dublin, Ireland.

And the Irish Times said the proposed €190 million development, which also aims to house the State’s first ice hockey franchise, has received strong support.

The venue would be used to host ice sports, provide elite training, and attract major entertainment acts, creating a national hub for winter sports.

Several leading business and sporting groups have thrown their weight behind the plans for a new winter sports arena in south Dublin.

The scheme has received the backing of employers’ group Ibec, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.

On the sporting side, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League and Premier Sports have also backed the project.

Prime Arena Holdings chief executive Dermot Rigley said, “These endorsements reflect not only confidence in the Prime Arena project, but also confidence in what this development can deliver for Ireland’s future.”

Other supporters of the plan include Odyssey Trust, Belfast Giants, Deloitte, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber, Sandyford Business District, Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Toronto and Ireland Canada Business Association.

The proposed scheme, adjacent to junction 16 of the M50 motorway, aims to serve as a national hub for winter sports and as a concert and corporate events venue.

It aims to attract 1.3 million visitors a year, including more than 67,000 foreign visitors.

Rigley added, “Prime Arena will be a transformative national asset, driving significant economic growth, creating thousands of jobs, and enabling Ireland to finally compete on the global stage for major events.”

Last year Prime Arena Holdings announced an agreement to purchase the site from US real-estate group Hines, which is already developing 1,300 apartments within the Cherrywood strategic development zone.

Planning documentation for the development is scheduled to be submitted in the first half of 2026.

Designed by DMOD Architects and supported by a team of experts, the arena will bring significant social, economic, and cultural benefits to the Cherrywood area.

Its sustainable design is inspired by Cherrywood’s heritage and offers dramatic views of the Wicklow Mountains.

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