New tenant at former Dundalk Ice Dome with works underway

The former Dundalk Ice Dome at the Retail Park in Dundalk, which has remained vacant since being bought by Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in 2014, has been leased to another party, with a commencement notice being submitted to the Building Control Management System in June of this year by Tennis Ireland for works on the site.

DkIT had for some years been trying to secure a lease arrangement for the Ice Dome, including entering negoiations with the Irish Ice Hockey Association (IIHA) in 2018, negotiations which fell through in 2021. A spokesperson for DkIT told the Dundalk Democrat in September that, “I can confirm that DkIT has entered into a leasing agreement with another party on the Ice Dome, however DkIT is not in a position to confirm who this is at this moment in time”.

The responsibility for compliance with building regulations rests with designers, builders and owners of buildings. Building Control records and notifications are submitted and managed through a national online system called Building Control Management System (BCMS).

A commencement notice must be submitted in advance of the construction of a new building, the extension of a building or the alteration of a building. According to the information on the BCMS website, a commencement notice with compliance documentation was submitted on 7 June, with a commencement date of 21 June.

This type of commencement notice requires that the owner must appoint a builder and registered professional(s) as designer and/or assigned certifier. It requires an inspection plan and also a number of construction drawings necessary to outline compliance with the technical requirements of the building regulations.

The description of the works being carried out include “internal modifications and alterations to existing Ice Dome building to facilitate new tennis courts and all associated site development works.” 

The owner company on the commencement notice is Tennis Ireland, and the owner name is Kevin Quinn, with an address of Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Mr Quinn was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tennis Ireland earlier this year.
The builder name on the commencement notice is also Kevin Quinn.

The designer name submitted is Gavin Dunne, with an address of Block 4, Level 3, Quayside Business Park, Mill Street, Dundalk, Louth.

The Dundalk Democrat has contacted Tennis Ireland in relation to the lease and to find out what its plans are for the building, but as of Tuesday morning, Tennis Ireland had not yet replied.