LATEST: Kildare padel centre backed by Shay Given gets green light

Plans backed by former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given for a €4 million state-of-the-art padel centre of excellence on lands within the grounds of The Club Hotel at Goffs have secured the green light.

This follows permission being granted by Kildare County Council to SFW Distribution Limited and Goffs operator Robert J. Goff & Company PLC for the facility, which will comprise nine championship-standard indoor padel courts on a site south-west of Goffs at Greenhill, Co Kildare.

Donegal native Given has entered a partnership with businessman Declan Fagan of SFW Distribution to develop the padel centre under the Arena Padel brand.

The 50-year-old is the second-most capped Republic of Ireland player and enjoyed a distinguished career with Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa. He is now a regular football pundit on BBC, RTÉ and Premier Sports.

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The decision overturns a refusal issued by the council to SFW Distribution Ltd for its initial planning application last September due to the equine-related zoning of the lands.

However, the council planner's report, which recommended granting permission for the revised scheme, said the applicants had overcome the zoning issue by including new uses such as a gym for hotel guests and jockey welfare facilities.

The report states the proposed uses support equine tourism at Goffs and are in keeping with the Equine Based Leisure Tourism and Enterprise zoning for the site.

The planner also noted the application was accompanied by letters of support from The Club Hotel at Goffs, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ).

Director at SFW Distribution, Declan Fagan, said: "We're delighted to have received permission from Kildare County Council. We've worked closely with Goffs to achieve the permission, as well as the wider equine bodies/community."

He added: "Goffs is such an iconic and uniquely positioned location. We feel that, given its convenience and accessibility, it will be a major hit for the surrounding areas of Naas, Kill and Straffan, while also attracting players from across Kildare, Dublin and beyond."

Fagan said construction is expected to begin as early as the end of next month, with the centre due to welcome its first players in April 2027.

He added: "Shay is really looking forward to development progressing and can't wait to be playing on the courts, along with the facilities such as the high-end gym, recovery area and studio space."

He said: "We think it will become a real wellness and fitness destination, with what we hope will be the best padel club in Ireland, as we have committed to a large investment to make this as appealing as possible."

When the first planning application was lodged in July 2025, Given said: "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."

A planning report submitted by planning consultant David Mulcahy on behalf of the applicants stated the development "will have direct links to the equine industry and be a significant addition to County Kildare in terms of sporting and recreation assets".

He said the padel facility would play a critical role in attracting international visitors to Goffs sales and The Club Hotel, both established equine-related businesses at the location.

Mulcahy added the facility "will form an integrated part of the equine offering", with Goffs employees, partners and hotel guests enjoying direct access to the development.

He also said integrating the hotel and padel arena "will elevate the Goffs visitor experience by offering on-site accommodation, dining, leisure, fitness and wellbeing".

The planning report estimates the development could create up to 30 jobs, providing "a significant boost for the local economy in the Naas/Kill area of the county".

Mulcahy concluded the proposed facility "will be a significant sporting asset for the County of Kildare" and said the revised application addressed the previous refusal, which related solely to compliance with the site's equine zoning objective.