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A building development company is planning to build an indoor ski resort and extreme sports centre in
Tyrellstown, County Dublin, which it claims could lead to the creation of up to 700 jobs.
The project will feature two ski slopes; the longest running for 190 meters, a rock and ice climbing area and a high-level adventure playground.
The project is being run by Twinlite and is similar to recent winter sport developments in Manchester and Milton Keynes in the UK.
Rick Larkin, Twinlite director said barring any delays in the planning process he hoped the centre would open in the third quarter of 2010.
He said the company had already raised the estimated €100 million required for the development costs and said the worsening economic outlook for the country was not a significant concern.
“International experience is that in a recessionary environment leisure spend tends to be pretty resilient. People are drawn towards escapism and similar facilities in the UK have been performing well”.
In Manchester the fee for 90 minutes skiing including equipment hire is around £24 and Mr Larkin said he expects the pricing model for “Snowtopia” to be broadly similar.
The company expects up to 1.5 million visitors a year to a development that will include a paintball centre, digital theatres, a gym, restaurants and retail outlets.
Mr Larkin said the new jobs would be across the entire development and suggested that another “300 indirect” jobs could be created once the new centre is operational.
