Proposed New Ice Rink In Ireland

A few months ago, we heard the great news that Southern Ireland was finally going to get a permanent Olympic-sized rink. (At the moment, the only 2 permanent rinks on the island are up here in the North, and only one of them is Olympic-sized). It was to be built as part of an extension to the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin.

Here is the thread that lyverbird1 (who lives near the site) opened on here at the time:

Exciting news for skating in Ireland!

Well, there has been a development. Some of you may have noticed that I was talking in the past tense in my introductory paragraph. And yes, there is a reason I was talking in that tense.

Unfortunately, it looks like it is not going to happen now:

http://www.thejournal.ie/liffey-valley-expansion-overturned-3233899-Feb2017/

The Planning Service has overturned the planning permission that the local council granted for the development.

Apparently, there were dodgy dealings going on in the early 90's which led to the area being re-zoned. Under normal circumstances, this re-zoning would never have happened. And it was only because of this zoning that the development was able to be approved in the first place.

The Planning Service argued that the area simply would not be able to cope with the extra traffic. And that is how the planning got overturned.

So, we are now back to square one.

And, to be honest, I am not one bit surprised.

CaroLiza_fan

^^^Darn! {{:curse:}} Some of us were already hoping GPF or Worlds would be there! Maybe at the Olympic-sized rink in the north?

Arriba627 said:

^^^Darn! {{:curse:}} Some of us were already hoping GPF or Worlds would be there! Maybe at the Olympic-sized rink in the north?

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I would love to see an international competition at Dundonald too. But, because we are under NISA (the British Federation) rather than the ISAI (the Irish Federation), I can't see it happening.

If NISA was granted an international competition, they would hold it in either Nottingham or Sheffield. Simple as that. Put it like this: every British Championship since 2004 has been held in one or other of those rinks.

And in the 30 years since the Dundonald Ice Bowl opened, how many times have the British Championships been held in Northern Ireland?

Once, in 2000.

Hey, maybe the British Federation didn't come back because they didn't like the fact that two of the gold medals they were giving out ended up staying here in Northern Ireland!!! (Senior Men with Neil Wilson; and Junior Ladies with Vicky Hutchinson)

There are only 2 ways I can see an international competition coming to Northern Ireland:

1. If the ISU specifically stipulated to NISA that it was to be held at Dundonald.
2. That the ISU tries to be clever and grants the ISAI an international event. And, because they don't have a rink of their own Down South, they would have to hold it here.

But, when has the ISU ever been clever?!

And anyway, I hope that the South isn't in the position where they don't have a permanent rink for much longer.

CaroLiza_fan

Was in tears when I first saw the news on Saturday. There was very little in terms of detail i.e. whether or not there would be some form of appeal or a plan amendment perhaps that would allow the rink to be developed on its own, but no, I'm now not hopeful that it would take place. I think it will eventually happen, albeit at a different location without an existing shopping complex but that means that not only is it further down the road in terms of time, it's also going to be a lot further away from my home (I was so excited at the thought of a rink a mere five minutes drive from my home!).

lyverbird1 said:

Was in tears when I first saw the news on Saturday. There was very little in terms of detail i.e. whether or not there would be some form of appeal or a plan amendment perhaps that would allow the rink to be developed on its own, but no, I'm now not hopeful that it would take place. I think it will eventually happen, albeit at a different location without an existing shopping complex but that means that not only is it further down the road in terms of time, it's also going to be a lot further away from my home (I was so excited at the thought of a rink a mere five minutes drive from my home!).

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The developers probably will put in amended plans. But, given the reasoning for the refusal, I expect that what is in them will have to be on a much smaller scale. And, hence, will not include something that would draw in a lot of extra people. Like an ice rink.

I remember reading on the campaign page on Facebook one time last year that the building where the previous rink was housed was up for rent again. Is there any possibility of re-opening a rink there? I know that there were complaints about the location being a bit out of the way. But, at least it was better than what you have now - nothing!

Whatever happens, you really need a rink down there. It's not fair on your skaters having to travel up here to train. And not fair for them having to fly over to London to compete in their National Championships. (Why is that, anyway? Why are your Nationals not held up here any more?)

CaroLiza_fan