Shay Given-backed €4m padel centre gets green light

The centre will see nine championship-standard indoor padel courts within the grounds of the Club Hotel at Goffs in Kildare

Plans backed by former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Shay Given for a €4m padel centre in Co Kildare have secured a green light from planners.

Plans backed by former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Shay Given for a €4m padel centre in Co Kildare have secured a green light from planners.

This follows Kildare Co Council granting planning permission to SFW Distribution Limited and Goffs operator, Robert J. Goff & Company PLC for the facility, which comprises nine championship-standard indoor padel courts on a site within the grounds of the Club Hotel at Goffs at Greenhill in Co Kildare.

Donegal native, Shay Given has entered a partnership with businessman, Declan Fagan of SFW Distribution to develop the padel centre under the ‘Arena Padel’ brand.

The 50-year old is the second-most capped Ireland player and had a long and distinguished career playing for Newcastle, Man City and Aston Villa and is now a regular football pundit on BBC and RTÉ.

The decision reverses a refusal issued by the Council to SFW Distribution to its initial planning application last September due to the equine-related zoning of the lands in question.

However, the Council report said the applicants have overcome the zoning reason for refusal by including new uses including a gym for use by the hotel occupants and jockey-related welfare facilities.

The Council report states the proposed new uses are supportive of equine tourism at Goffs and are in keeping with the Equine Based Leisure Tourism and Enterprise zoning for the site.

The planner’s report noted that the application was accompanied by letters of support from The Club Hotel at Goffs; the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA), and Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ).

"We’re delighted to have received permission from Kildare County Council. We’ve worked closely with Goffs to achieve the permission, as well as the wider equine bodies/community.," said Mr Fagan. “Goffs is such an iconic and uniquely positioned location, we feel that given its convenience and accessibility it will be major hit for the the surrounding area of Naas, Kill, Straffan as well as reaching into wider Kildare area, Dublin and beyond.

Construction could get underway as early as the end of next month, with opening in April 2027.

When the first planning application was lodged in July 2025, Mr Given said: "We’ve founded Arena Padel to bring padel tennis to the masses by investing in purpose built, modern sports arenas. We have found an ideal location in Goffs."

A planning report lodged by planning consultant, David Mulcahy for the applicants said the facility “will form an integrated part of the equine offering at Goffs’ employees and partners and the Club Hotel’s guests having direct access to and shared use of the facility”.

Mr Mulcahy stated that the applicants estimate that up to 30 jobs could be created by the proposed development which “is a significant boost for the local economy in the Naas/Kill area of the county”.