The joint managers of Shamrocks GAA club in Offally, Brian Kinnarney and John Monaghan, have resigned in protest at not being consulted about an appeal following their weekend defeat
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30 Sept 2025
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30 Sept 2025
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The proposed padel complex was set to create up to thirty jobs
Former Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given's plans to build a state-of-the-art €4m padel complex on the grounds of The Club Hotel at Goffs in Greenhill has been rejected by Kildare County Council.
The council have said that the land can only be used for horse-related use under the zoning of the Equine-based Leisure Tourism and Enterprise.
Planning permission for the complex was initially sought at the end of July with Given proclaiming: "It's the fastest growing sport in the world, we've founded 'Arena Padel' to bring padel tennis to the masses".
The indoor facility was due to be launched under the 'Arena Padel' brand by the SFW Distribution Ltd. company which was founded by Given along with businessman Declan Fagan.
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The company was looking to capitalize on the growing global popularity of padel in recent years by creating a hub for the racket sport in the heart of the country.
The submitted application's report stated: "The facility will be the largest of it's kind in Ireland and will be a major sporting asset for the county of Kildare".
The proposed plans included a 45,000 square-foot facility was set to have nine championship-standard indoor courts, a gym, recovery and changing rooms creating up to thirty jobs in the process.
It is understood that there was no public objections to the proposal but the council insisted that any new development on the property must be equine-based with the zoning objective also facilitating the expansion of existing equine developments.
Kildare County Council cited that the proposed padel complex was "not an equine-based development and would set an undesirable precedent for similar non-equine related uses on the landholding" in the future.
SFW Distribution Ltd. must now decide whether or not to appeal the decision by the Kildare's county council with An Coimisiún Pleanála.
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