Go-ahead given for new sports facility in Mayo town

Mayo County Council has granted planning permission to a Connacht rugby player and his business partner for the conversion of a Ballina storage warehouse into padel courts.

Jack Carty, who has played at fly-half 200 times for the province since his debut in 2012, and his business partner Fergal Hynes were successful in their application to change the use of the warehouse at the IDA Industrial Estate, Bunree to a recreational and leisure facility consisting of four indoor padel courts.

The application includes plans for signage, car and bicycle parking and all associated ancillary site works. The local authority has granted planning permission subject to four conditions to the applicants.

In a planning statement submitted as part of the application, OMD Design described padel, which is similar to squash and tennis and played on enclosed courts, as the fastest growing sport in the world with over 30 million players worldwide and is fun and inclusive for all ages and all abilities.

They said the proposed facility will be the first of its kind, offering all-weather, all-year-round sports and leisure offering and proposed that the hours of operation for the facility would be 9am to 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

The planning application also received a supporting submission from local Senator Mark Duffy, who said he welcomed any initiative that promotes healthy lifestyles, strengthens community participation and provides positive amenities for people of all ages.

Mr Carty, who has represented Ireland 11 times, and Mr Hynes opened the first padel court in the west of Ireland in July. The three-court facility is located in Corrib Business Park on the N84 outside Galway city.