Featured image credit: FaulknerBrowns Architects
The Irish Government has granted approval for what will be the country’s first National Velodrome, with the project set to proceed to tender.
The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre scheme will comprise of a 250 metre cycling track and up to 12 badminton courts in the in-track area, in addition to spectator seating and ancillary facilities. It will be located in the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre was the first high-level project scheduled for delivery under a major revamp of the Sport Ireland Campus unveiled by the Irish Government in November 2022.
Construction plans have since been delayed, having originally been envisioned to commence in August last year, with the Irish Independent stating €87m (£73.9m/$94.2m) in funding has been ring fenced through the national development plan.
In January 2023, FaulknerBrowns Architects announced that its design for Ireland’s first indoor velodrome had been granted planning approval. The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will feature around 1,000 permanent seats for spectators. Other spaces, including the entrance and café, changing rooms, offices, training facilities and bicycle hire/stores, will sit under the track at ground level.
The velodrome will provide a permanent home for Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland, at what is intended to be a landmark venue for national and international events. The building will also be multi-functional, with 2,500 temporary seats to accommodate non-sporting events and activities.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, said in a statement: “As we proudly support Team Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will support the next generation of athletes.
“The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will provide state-of-the-art track cycling facilities for our cycling athletes who currently have to travel abroad for both training and competition, as well as providing the sport of badminton with a permanent home featuring integrated training, gym and medical facilities.
“The funding provided to build these training facilities will allow athletes in both sports to reach optimal performance levels on the international stage. Our National Sports Campus is already a world leading athlete focused facility and this next phase of its development will further enhance Ireland’s sporting infrastructure.”
Speaking on behalf of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, added: “This is an exhilarating next step in advancing what is already a world-leading location for sport. The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will provide our athletes with top-class training facilities and will allow us to host competitions right here in Ireland, significantly enhancing the high-performance environment on the Sport Ireland Campus.
“It’s exactly the sort of continued investment that is absolutely crucial for boosting participation from grassroots levels to elite athletes. We’re all enjoying the Olympics, and this will only enhance high-performing Irish cyclers’ chances of international, Olympic and Paralympic medals in the future.”
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