Lifford’s Shay Given applies for €4 million padel centre permission in Kildare
Irish football great said he was "very excited" for new project
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Shay Given, has applied for planning permission alongside his business partner, Declan Fagan, for a €4 million padel centre.
Lifford’s Given, and Fagan, have lodged for planning permission for Arena Padel, a 45,000 sq. ft indoor padel facility at Goffs, Kildare.
The arena is planned to feature nine championship-standard courts, a ‘bio-circuit’ gym in partnership with Technogym, and recovery rooms, in an investment that could create 30 jobs.
Padel is a racket sport played in an enclosed court, with the same scoring system as tennis, but with different rules, strokes and equipment. The sport originated in Mexico, but has long been popular in countries like Spain and Brazil.
The project is not the only padel-based plans Given is backing, as he has also supported a new major facility in Birmingham, England, alongside major English sports stars including James Milner, Michael Vaughan, and Jos Buttler for a ten-court facility.
On his social media, Given said he was “very excited” for the project, stating: “After retiring, I needed an outlet to keep my competitive juices flowing, and I found that in padel.
“It’s the fastest growing sport in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Padel can be played together by all ages and skill levels.
“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 and can’t wait to start welcoming players early next year.”