On Friday 14th of June An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar opened phase two of the Sport Ireland Indoor Arena on the Abbotstown campus.
Phase Two of the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena comprises of covered synthetic pitch facilities, primarily designed for rugby, soccer and Gaelic games. The development includes: an indoor pitch for soccer & Gaelic games, which can accommodate a number of sports; a ½ sized indoor rugby pitch; and ancillary facilities including changing & player rooms, offices and meeting rooms.
Speaking at the opening, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, said: “This is a red-letter day for the Sport Ireland Campus and for Irish sport. I am a great believer in Government investment in sport. Sport helps bring communities together in a way that is both remarkable and inspiring. The budget for sport increased by 12% last year as part of our strategy to double it by 2027.
“When our athletes and teams compete at the highest level they carry our hopes and our dreams. We share their heartache in defeat, their joy in victory. We are with them win or lose. The Government’s mission is to provide world-class facilities, so our athletes and teams can compete on the world stage. The expanded Sport Ireland Campus has become a very busy venue in a short space of time and I hope that it will contribute to continued success for Irish sport in the coming years.”
The commencement of Phase Two was announced in July 2017 as a two year project with a construction cost of €24.2 million. The project has been completed in this timeframe at a construction cost of €24.4 million.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, added: “The opening of Phase Two will add to the existing world-class facilities already available in Phase One of the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, which was opened in early 2017. With the addition of the field sport facilities, the Sport Ireland Campus is providing access for an ever-wider range of sports. With Project 2040 and the National Development Plan also committing to the development of a National velodrome and badminton centre, the Sport Ireland Campus has firmly been established as the home of sport in Ireland.”
Phase Two of the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena is the latest addition to the Sport Ireland Campus, with other facilities on site including: the National Aquatic Centre, Sport Ireland Institute, Irish Sport HQ, National Diving Centre, National Horse Sport Arena, National Cross Country Track, Cricket Ireland High Performance Centre and Special Olympics Ireland HQ, among others.