The ice hockey community in Ireland rejoices as Prime Arena Holdings is to submit planning permission for the country’s first ever “permanent, Olympic-standard ice facility”. 

By Kelly Smyth 

In a recent statement, the Irish Ice Hockey Association expressed its full support of the National Ice Arena Project in Cherrywood, highlighting the need for Irish athletes to have a domestic space: 

“For more than a decade, the IIHA has worked to advance the case for permanent Olympic-standard ice facilities in Ireland, in order to support athlete development, grow participation and allow Irish athletes to train and compete at home.” 

“The Association therefore welcomes this proposal as a significant and positive milestone in that journey”. 

Speaking to TheCity, IIHA President Aaron Guli, said he’s  relieved that the proposal is progressing, having advocated for a permanent rink for over a decade. 

“The IIHA has been trying to make it happen. We are the only country in Europe without a permanent ice facility,” he said.  

The proposed arena is to consist of two professional standard rinks, one of which would be home to a team like the Belfast Giants, while the second would be open to IIHA teams.  

“A professional team and arena will help boost interest in the game at a grassroots level. The second rink would give us a home,” Guli said.  

“It’s long overdue. Our closest neighbour, the UK, has over 66 rinks across the country while we don’t have one.” 

Currently, players in the Republic of Ireland are forced to travel to Dundonald International Ice Rink in Co Down for training sessions and competitions, making it incredibly difficult to grow the sport domestically. 

“I mean we have to travel to what is essentially another country to play the sport,” said Guli.  

Co-founder of Dublin Buccaneers, Derek O’Neill, said he’s frustrated with the lack of local facilities, describing the journey to Dundonald as “very time consuming”. 

“It’s about a seven-hour round-trip when you factor in the commute, getting ready, getting showered and being on ice,” said O’Neill.  

O’Neill also revealed many of the open slots for training at the rink are rather late in the evening, further disrupting players’ ability to train.  

“On a Friday, we can only get a slot at 9:15pm,” he said. “Sometimes you won’t be home until well past 1am.” 

An Irish youth team practicing in the Dundonald International Ice Rink. Photo Credits: Derek O’Neill. 

This challenge is not unique to the Buccaneers, and Guli said that the IIHA believes it is another major part in preventing ice hockey from thriving. 

“If people don’t see the sport, they won’t play the sport. Nobody sees it because we are forced to go so far away even though we are here,” he said. 

Guli claimed that the lack of ice hockey facilities in Ireland can also be limiting for many immigrants living in the country, who cannot play the sport they grew up with: 

“There’s nothing here for diaspora. You have a lot of North American and Eastern European players who move here but don’t have the infrastructure to play.” 

“It’s not the seventies or eighties anymore, Ireland has a very diverse population and there should be something for everyone, especially in a sports heavy country,” he added. 

O’Neill agreed with this statement, highlighting the diverse range of players the Dublin Buccaneers have as one of the largest senior clubs in the country. 

“Our team has such a broad spectrum. We have Canadians, Americans, Ukrainians, Latvians, and more,” he said.  

He also emphasised that the team was also home to a large number of “home-grown” talents on the team, showing there is enough domestic interest to justify the development in Cherrywood.  

“We are very eager to see it being built. Every few years we’ve been hearing rumours start and then fizzle out. You get a little cynical,” said O’Neill. 

“This development is reliable; it’s got backing from official bodies like the Olympic federation, so that’s very exciting.” 

The development may come sooner than expected, according to Guli, who revealed that the arena may be ready by as early as 2030. 

“If all goes well, planning is due to be submitted by this May. It’s hard to know how long that will take, but we’d like to see the facility open in the next five years,” he said.  

The IIHA holds hope that the development in Cherrywood will support domestic growth of the sport and see it go “mainstream”. 

“I think that ice hockey in Ireland will be completely transformed,” said Guli.