Padel tennis centre opens in Cork

A STATE-of-the-art padel tennis centre has just opened at the Fota Junction Retail Park to accommodate one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

It is Ireland’s largest indoor facility dedicated solely to padel tennis, home to four indoor panoramic courts.

Following its opening on Saturday, November 4, more than 200 players attended over the first two days, with many more popping in for a look around.

Padel is a mix between tennis and squash, usually played in doubles on an enclosed court one third of the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls — it is also easier than tennis, making it relatively accessible for new players.

Mark White, the founder and managing director of the centre, told The Echo that he and his business and life partner Jeremy Coyle’s aim was to make the sport accessible to everyone, adding: “It’s a pretty big boasting statement for Cork to have Ireland’s largest facility.”

He formed Padel Tennis Ireland Ltd at the end of last year with the intention of it being Ireland’s most inclusive sporting brand.

He said that Padel is “a great equaliser sport”, and the centre is family-friendly and open to all genders, ages, and abilities.

“We won’t be offering membership at any point,” White said, explaining: “Even if we put a nominal fee on it, like €100, some people can’t afford that.”

He described the new centre as: “A world-class sporting facility without a world-class price tag — and it’s for everyone!”

The grand opening ceremony with ribbon cutting will take place on January 13, when classes and programmes will be launched.

The next 10 weeks is the centre’s soft opening period when anyone can rent a court and try their hand at the sport.