By Christopher Dunne

Copyright kilkennypeople

Arena Padel has revealed plans to open a state-of-the-art, 22,000 sq. ft indoor padel facility in Gowran Park, County Kilkenny. Already home to a world-class horse racing facility, along with an 18-hole championship golf course, Arena Padel plan to build five indoor padel courts on site. READ NEXT: Spate of recent criminal activity in Kilkenny prompts urgent garda warning Gowran Park is the second Arena Padel site to be announced in recent weeks, following the news of a flagship site in Goffs, County Kildare, that is due to open next year. It is understood that planning permission has been submitted to Kilkenny County Council for the facility, which will also include a sauna, ice bath, changing rooms and an indoor golf simulator. TAP ‘NEXT’ FOR MORE PICS Arena Padel is the brainchild of former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, and his business partners Declan and Stuart Fagan. READ NEXT: Kilkenny business ‘beyond proud’ to be in the running for Restaurant of the Year “We were delighted to get such a positive reaction from releasing our plans for Goffs, and we’re looking forward to working with people in the Kilkenny and Carlow areas on our Gowran Park project”, Given said. “Since retiring, I have found padel to be a brilliant way to keep fit and stay competitive. It’s the fastest growing sport in the world and can be played by all ages and skill levels.” Like Given, business partner, Declan Fagan is a regular padel player. The shared passion between the two, created the idea for Arena Padel. “We’re delighted to work with Eddie Scally, and all his team in Gowran Park. The venue is iconic in the south-east of the country and is known throughout Ireland”, Fagan added. SEE ALSO: Times and dates confirmed for upcoming Kilkenny senior and intermediate matches “Arena Padel was created make padel tennis accessible to the public by creating modern venues around the country, and we can’t wait to welcome players from Kilkenny, Carlow and further afield, next year.” Eddie Scally, General Manager of Gowran Park, stated that the Park ‘are delighted to be joining forces with Arena Padel to bring a state-of-the-art complex to our region’. “This is another exciting step for Gowran Park and we feel the padel centre will really add to our race and golf courses,” he concluded. TAP ‘>’ FOR MORE PICS TAP ‘>’ FOR MORE PICS END OF GALLERY TAP ‘>’ TO RETURN TO ARTICLE We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether it’s a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots. We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community. To submit: Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can. Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond. TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY