Padel 100 Ltd has submitted plans to Cork County Council for two modular padel courts in Fermoy, North Cork. The proposed facility aims to provide a low-impact option for local players with quick setup potential. Objections can be lodged until March 6.
Padel, a sport gaining traction across Europe, is seeing increased development in Ireland, particularly in Cork. Padel 100 Ltd, a key player in the sector, has applied for permission to construct two courts opposite the Lidil store on Courthouse Road in Fermoy. These courts would use an artificial grass surface, feature 4-meter-high fences, and include integrated LED lighting that activates only during use to minimize disturbance to nearby residents.
The design emphasizes modularity, requiring no permanent alterations to the site and allowing for easy removal if circumstances change. According to the application, a single court can be assembled in just 72 hours, enabling rapid implementation should approval be granted. The planning notice appeared on site on January 30, giving the public until March 6 to submit comments or objections to Cork County Council. Developers describe the project as a 'low-impact, community-enhancing' addition for Fermoy residents.
This initiative aligns with broader expansions by Padel 100 in the region, including a pending decision on four similar courts at the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry, expected later this month. In Cork city, access to padel has improved recently. Until late last year, the Fota Junction Retail Park hosted Ireland's largest dedicated facility, requiring city players to travel to Carrigtwohill. A new venue, The Hive on Monahan Road near the Marina and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, opened shortly before Christmas after a €4 million investment to convert a 19,000-square-foot warehouse into a space with five courts.