Ice rinks galore but prices need to take a tumble

WITH three ice rinks opening this Christmas and another in the pipeline, winter ice-skating has become big business.

Yesterday saw the launch of Dublin City on Ice, a 920 square metre facility in Smithfield, expected to cater for 90,000 people. There’s also Christmas on Ice, a rival ice rink set up in the RDS for the season, while Fota Island in Cork is opening its own rink.

Galway may also get its own ice rink, although not in time for Christmas. A developer from Athenry has applied for permission to build a major recreation centre in the Rahoon area of the city. There are plans to provide an ice rink, a roller-skating rink, a bowling alley and a community sports centre there.