New Dawn for Irish Cycling - Minister O’Donovan and Minister McConalogue Turn First Sod for Irish Velodrome

Minister O’Donovan and Minister McConalogue were joined by past and current track cycling World Champion to turn the first sod on the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre

A new dawn for Irish cycling this morning as Minister O’Donovan turned the first sod, marking the start of construction of the new National Velodrome and Badminton Centre on the sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown.

Minister O’Donovan, Minster McConalogue joined CEO of Sport Ireland Dr Una May, CEO of Cycling Ireland James Quilligan and President of Cycling Ireland Ciaran Cannon to mark the milestone for cycling in Ireland. Mayor of Fingal Councillor Tom O’Leary was on hand, as were representatives from Walls Construction – Director James O’Toole, Chairman Frank Kelly and Business Development Director Barry Hennessy, as they take on the project.

The venue will provide Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland with a state-of-the-art facility at a time when both sports are seeing substantial growth across the island of Ireland.

Current Track World Champion Lara Gillespie and previous Track World Champion Martyn Irvine were both on site for this momentous occasion. Their success has helped grow track cycling in Ireland and the construction of the velodrome will provide current and future athletes an opportunity to train in Ireland.

The indoor velodrome will be the first of its kind in Ireland. It will benefit people of all ages and abilities, from those getting on a track for the first time to our elite riders who compete at World and Olympic level. With this facility we will get more people physically active and enjoying cycling in a safe environment, growing participation levels in all disciplines.

The velodrome will host a range of events and programmes, catering for everything from balance bike sessions for Under 6’s to adults over 65, and everyone in between.

Cycling Ireland President Ciaran Cannon welcomed the announcement, noting: “Today marks a truly historic moment for Irish sport. The Government’s decision to invest €100 million in Ireland’s first ever indoor velodrome is a game-changer for cycling and for our wider sporting community. This facility will not only nurture the next generation of Irish elite cyclists, it will also open the doors for thousands at grassroots level to discover and enjoy the sport in a safe, world-class environment.

“We have seen the extraordinary impact of velodrome investment in other countries. In Britain, the Manchester velodrome transformed their sport, producing Olympic and world champions while also becoming a thriving hub for local clubs, schools, and community cyclists. Ireland now has the same opportunity, to build excellence at the highest level while making cycling more accessible than ever.

“We also want to thank our Government Ministers and Sport Ireland for sharing our ambition for the development of cycling in Ireland. Their vision and commitment will ensure that this facility delivers lasting benefits for our athletes, our members, and our communities for generations to come.

This velodrome is not just an investment in infrastructure—it is an investment in people, in communities, and in Ireland’s sporting future.”

James Quilligan, Cycling Ireland CEO added: “We welcome todays historic announcement and look forward to working closely with Sport Ireland and especially Badminton Ireland, our new partners in this venture. This facility will serve as a hub of excellence and participation for both sports. We also wish to thank all the volunteers and supporters that have driven this project over the last number of years.

“From our perspective, we believe this will inspire young riders, support our clubs, and provide the pathway from grassroots participation to international success. It is the cornerstone we have been waiting for, and it has the potential to transform cycling in this country.”

At the sod-turning event to launch the construction of the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown Dublin 15 were Sport Ireland chief executive Dr Úna May, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport with special responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue TD, Sport Ireland chair John Foley and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O'Leary, with Olympian Nhat Nguyen, Olympian and track World Champion Lara Gillespie, and Paralympian Kerri Leonard, and representatives from Sport Ireland's High Performance Committee, Sport Ireland's Campus Development Committee, Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland. The Centre will house the first indoor velodrome track in Ireland and provide a permanent home for both Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland. Construction is scheduled to take around two years, with the facility expected to open by mid-2028. - Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile