Watersports Campus

National Watersports Campus Plans Get a Boost From Top-Up Funding Pot of Over €37M for Major Sports Projects

6th December 2023 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

The proposed National Watersports Campus for Dun Laoghaire has received a major boost in the form of a €410,000-plus top-up grant under the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Sport Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Thomas Byrne made the announcement on…

Over 370 boats will compete on Dublin Bay at this week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, opening on Thursday, July 6th and running until Sunday, July 9th

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Events Director Paddy Boyd On a Harbour Transformed (Podcast)

2nd July 2023 Wavelength Podcast

If it’s July, it must be the return of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, along with Coastival, the new festival celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the south Dublin waterfront. Over 370 boats have registered for the regatta, opening on…

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) pictured with Senator Barry Ward holding a copy of the concept document for the national watersports campus at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. During his visit Varadkar heard about the new campus plans in the east coast port

National Watersports Campus Plans Discussed During Taoiseach's Visit to Dún Laoghaire Harbour

4th April 2023 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar heard plans about the new national watersports campus in Dún Laoghaire Harbour during a visit to the east coast port last Friday. Following consultation with stakeholders, a working document that outlines the planned National Watersports Campus has been published…

Dun Laoghaire's National Watersports Campus Concept Document Published

17th February 2023 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Following consultation with stakeholders, a working document that outlines the planned National Watersports Campus has been published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an award of €400,000 under…

File image of Dun Laoghaire Harbour from the air

Blueprint for Dun Laoghaire’s Future Identifies Potential as Renewable Energy Hub & National Watersports Campus

5th December 2021 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

Dun Laoghaire’s future could lie in its potential as a hub to support offshore renewable energy projects. That’s one of the conclusions from the €100k report commissioned by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to develop a blueprint for the south Co…

Water sports, culture and heritage themes dominate the Strategic Local Objectives for Dun Laoghaire identified in the draft development plan for the county.

Identifying Sites for Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Watersports, Culture & Heritage Future

17th May 2021 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

Without the prospect of a major commercial development, as had been proposed by the now-defunct Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, the debate as to the future use of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is very much now focussed on its use as a…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour could be the Abbotstown of the Sea

Marine Version of the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown is on the Cards for Dun Laoghaire Harbour

26th February 2021 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Plans for a National Watersports Campus for Dun Laoghaire Harbour is part of the scope of an extensive economic survey being conducted in the Dublin Bay town. As Times.ie reports today, consultation on the future development Dun Laoghaire’s town and…

Dun Laoghaire's 250 acre harbour - a forthcoming report aims to set a new course for the 200-year-old structure. Now that it has taken control of the harbour, Council efforts are being made to regenerate one of the largest man-made harbours in the world

Is the Tide Rising at Dun Laoghaire Harbour?

11th December 2020 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

After years of neglect, the tide may finally be turning in favour of Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo) has commissioned a new €100k report into the 200-year-old harbour, asking economic consultants Indecon to provide a blueprint…

Dead space at Dun Laoghaire Harbour left by the departure of the ferry can be partly filled with a new public watersports facility to bring more people into the sport of recreational sailing and boating

Dun Laoghaire's Watersport Campus Plan is a Boon for Marine Leisure Scene

30th April 2020 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

A business stimulus for Dun Laoghaire after COVID-19 may well lie in government approved plans for a national watersports campus in the town's harbour. It comes at a time when town officials seek to regenerate the 200-year-old harbour and give it…

A town and its harbour. From a height, Dun Laoghaire and its harbour may look to be dynamically inter-twined. But at sea level, things can be very different.

Dun Laoghaire Moves into a New Era with Fair Wind for National Watersports Campus

17th January 2020 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Dun Laoghaire is undoubtedly a harbour which merits study. So much so, in fact, that as of this week, the qualifications for detailed study of the magnificent artificial harbour and the remarkable town beside it have been quantified - to…

A screenshot from the successful National Waterport Campus application showing the scale of the project in the south Dublin town

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Gets Green Light for National Watersports Campus Project

13th January 2020 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Plans for an €8m National Watersports Campus at Dun Laoghaire Harbour got the green light from Government today with the announcement of a €400k feasibility study grant from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The successful application was made by…

New Infrastructure Fund Could Rekindle Ambitions For Dun Laoghaire As National Watersport Hub

21st November 2018 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

Ambitions for a National Watersport Centre in Dun Laoghaire could be revived following the launch of a new State fund supporting infrastructure for multi-sports projects. Applications are now being invited for the the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, launched by…

Proposal For National Watersports Centre In Dun Laoghaire Now Online

16th October 2015 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus

#DunLaoghaire - Proposals for a National Watersports Centre for Dun Laoghaire at the former HSS terminal are now online. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the idea was recently proposed by the Dun Laoghaire Combined Clubs (DLCC) to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County…

National Watersports Campus, Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Stakeholders combined forces in 2019 to promote a project to improve the Harbour’s infrastructure resulting in improved access, job creation and greater tourism potential.

A grant application to government made by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo) assisted by stakeholders was successful with the announcement of a €400k feasibility study grant from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) in January 2020.

It meant plans for the €8m National Watersports Campus at Dun Laoghaire Harbour got the green light from Government and came a step closer to reality.

The project recognises deficits in the current set up in the harbour, proposing the construction of an all-tide publicly-accessible slipway (none currently in the Greater Dublin Area) as well as a marine services facility, providing a much-needed home for the supporting industry.

The campus also seeks to provide a marketing framework to make boating more accessible to the general public.

The benefits of such an increase might be obvious for the Dun Laoghaire waterfront but there are other spin-offs for the harbour town in the creation of the sort of jobs that cannot be shipped abroad.

Centre for Community Watersports activity and public slipway

High-Performance coaching centre

Flexible Event Space for hosting national and international events

Multipurpose Building

Campus Marketing and Promotional Centre

Accommodation for Irish Sailing and Irish Underwater Council

Shared NGB Facility

Education Centre for schools, community groups and clubs

Proposed site – Carlisle Pier

Watersports Campus FAQs

What is the National Watersports Campus Project?

Similar to the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, the watersports campus will provide quality, public, recreational and high-performance facilities for the many watersports participants. The Campus will considerably enhance the services currently provided by more than 30 clubs and activity centres to over 50,000 annual users of the harbour.

Why has the Watersports Campus project come about now for Dun Laoghaire Harbour?

The passing of control of the harbour to DLRCC, the public appetite for a community benefitting project and the capital funding for sports infrastructure in the Project 2040 National Plan have aligned to create an opportunity to deliver this proposal.

What organisations are promoting the Watersports Campus project?

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and the Irish Sailing Association (Irish Sailing) are the project leads, endorsed by the National Governing Bodies of other Irish watersports and clubs and activity providers.

What is LSSIF?

The National Sports Policy, published in 2018, established the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to provide Exchequer support for sports facility projects. In some cases, these may be projects where the primary objective will be to increase active participation in sport. In other cases, these may be venues where the focus is more related to high-performance sport.

What funds have been allocated to the LSSIF?

Government has allocated at least €100m over the term to 2027 to successful applicant projects.

Is the National Watersports Campus a beneficiary of the LSSIF?

The Watersports Campus was one of seven successful applicants for Stream 1 funding allowing planning to commence on the project design and feasibility. €442,000 has been granted in this phase.

What are the key elements of the Watersports Campus project?

NThe project will provide for a municipally-owned public access facility to include a small craft slipway that is accessible at all stages of the tide (currently none in public ownership in the greater Dublin area), storage and lock-up resources, watersports event management space, a high-performance centre and NGB accommodation.

What other benefits are envisaged with the Watersports Campus?

The project aims to enhance the profile of Dun Laoghaire as a major international venue for maritime events, shows and conferences. Establish Dun Laoghaire as the 'go-to place' for anything marine – generating revenues Create employment in the county - attract businesses, visitors and events. Grow the market for watersports Promote the services of activity providers to the public. Complement the plan to develop Dun Laoghaire as a 'destination.'

What are the next steps in the Campus project?

As of January 1 2021, The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has approved the applicant project and DLRCC are expected to appoint a team to further advance the project.