PERMISSION has finally been granted for a padel facility and gym at the former Ennis Abattoir by Clare County Council.
Clare County Council previously sought further information on the development in February 2025 after questioning proposed zoning at the site as well as highlighting Iarnród Éireann’s concerns that the proposed development could encroach onto the adjacent rail line.
A planning application for the development was first issued in November 2024 before being withdrawn. A new application was then submitted in March of this year.
Quin native Sean Hehir has overcome these stumbling blocks however and has now been granted planning permission by the local authority to “change the use of the abattoir to a gym and to carry out alterations to the buildings to include an exterior leisure area, for demolition of the cattle shed and to construct 4 no. padel courts with carparking”.
The planning department has issued a number of conditions that the development must adhere to after being granted permission. The local authority has ordered that “the proposed development shall operate between the hours of 7.00 and 22.00 Monday to Sunday only” and that a contribution of €15,242 be paid to the council “in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting the development”.
The development previously received the support of Ennis cllrs Mary Howard (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) who made representations in support of the proposed development.
Padel Tennis or Padel is a racket sport of Mexican origin and is played in over 90 countries around the world. The sport combines elements of squash and tennis and is played by the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. It has been described as the fastest growing sport in the world with a facility opening in Limerick in January 2025.
The development received one objection from a Mr. Oisín McNamara of Shannon who expressed several concerns relating to traffic safety arising from the site. McNamara stated that the development “represents a significant intensification of use on a constrained site with a single access point onto a busy road. Increased traffic will lead to more queuing within the site and will spillback onto the Tulla road causing even more traffic problems”.
“A cycle lane runs across the site entrance. Increased vehicle movements will create conflict between vehicles and cyclists, particularly given existing congestion and likely queueing. The proposed access arrangement and limited internal queuing space raise serious safety concerns for all road users”, McNamara continued.
Work on the padel facility can now begin following Clare County Council’s decision to grant planning permission.
