Plans by former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given for a padel centre in Kildare have hit a stumbling block.
It comes after planners at Kildare Co Council refused planning permission to SFW Distribution Limited for the €4m ‘state of the art’ the facility.
The Lifford native had entered a partnership with businessman, Declan Fagan of SFW Distribution to develop the padel centre under the ‘Arena Padel’ brand.
As well as nine padel courts, the centre also included gym and recovery rooms on a site Goffs at Greenhill.
A report lodged with the application stated that “the facility will be the largest facility of its kind in Ireland and will be a major sporting asset for the County of Kildare”.
However, an issue with the equine-related zoning of the lands in question has put it out of bounds.
No objections were lodged against the proposal.
However, Kildare County Council turned down planning permission and cited the ‘Equine Based Leisure Tourism and Enterprise” zoning on site where the objective is “to develop equine based industry at Goffs”
SFW Distribution Ltd now has the option of lodging an appeal against the Council decision with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP).
Shay Given’s plans for padel centre knocked back by planners was last modified: September 30th, 2025 by Staff Writer
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