€5 million padel court investment served up
Construction of new padel courts will begin in Cork this summer following the announcement of a €5 million investment in the sport across Ireland.
Irish padel company, Padel 100, announced yesterday, Wednesday, it has secured a €5m investment to launch an ambitious national network of 100 state-of-the-art padel courts across Ireland.
Padel is a racquet sport that uses the same scoring system as lawn tennis but is played on smaller courts. It is mainly played in the doubles format, with players using solid racquets with no strings. The courts are enclosed and players can bounce the ball off the walls.
This major development is being delivered in partnership with Acenta Group, an infrastructure and investment firm that recently launched on the Nasdaq Stockholm in Sweden. Padel 100 is backed by founders Ben Keohane, Ryan Hennessy and a group of investors from the world of business and sport including the retired professional Irish rugby union player and Pendulum Summit Founder Frankie Sheahan and businessman Michael Mulcahy.
The courts will be rolled out in all parts of Cork including Little Island and Carrigaline with six other Cork locations also included in the 2025/2026 plans, the Cork Independent has learned.
Ben Keohane, Co-Founder and CEO of Padel 100, said: “We’re building more than just courts – we’re building a community and a movement. This €5 million investment, combined with the expertise of our partners at Acenta Group, allows us to deliver world-class padel experiences across Ireland. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, Padel 100 is creating spaces where everyone can play, connect and thrive.”
The funding marks a bold step forward for the growth of padel in Ireland, aiming to make the sport accessible to communities across all 32 counties. Construction of the first courts is set to begin this summer, with locations in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford confirmed as part of phase one. Additional sites across suburban and regional areas will follow throughout 2025 and beyond.
Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships, Ryan Hennessy said: “After engaging with numerous clubs nationwide, we have seen exceptional interest and enthusiasm for padel, a dynamic and inclusive sport poised to attract new members and enhance engagement at all levels and in all types of sports clubs, schools and golf clubs. We are highly encouraged by the number of clubs that have already signed expressions of interest with us, with so many more engaged at various levels with us.”
Frankie Sheahan said: “I am delighted to be involved as an investor in Padel 100 as I am a passionate padel player and see enormous potential to bring the world's fastest growing sport to more communities all over Ireland. Acenta Group has an enviable reputation and is a fantastic partner for our company as we scale the model in communities all over our great country.”
The newly appointed Non-Executive Chairman, and an investor in Padel Sports 100 Limited, Michael Mulcahy, said: “As someone that is relatively new to racquet sports, padel for me has become much more than just a sport, it has shown me tremendous benefits from a health, wellbeing and getting to know a great community who are passionate about padel. I was delighted to support Ben and Ryan and look forward to working with Acenta Group and being involved with the other investors in this great journey.”