Dublin City Council has secured Part 8 planning approval for Irishtown Leisure Centre, following approval by council committee on 7th September 2026, marking a major step towards delivering a new community sport, health and wellbeing destination for Dublin’s south inner city.
Designed by FaulknerBrowns, the project will transform Irishtown Stadium into a modern, inclusive and sustainable leisure hub, replacing the Markievicz Leisure Centre and strengthening the city’s provision of accessible, high-quality facilities.
A new civic destination for sport and wellbeing
Located within the parkland setting of Irishtown Stadium, the leisure centre has been designed as an open and welcoming destination. Indoor activity is visually connected to the surrounding landscape, creating a strong relationship between the building, the athletics track and the wider park while making activity visible and accessible to all. A central social space, comprising a reception, café and lounge areas, will provide a vibrant civic heart to the development and create an active meeting place for the local community. Inside, the building will accommodate a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, sauna and steam rooms, a 100-station fitness suite, three multipurpose studios and inclusive changing facilities. The layout has been designed around clarity, ease of movement and user experience, creating a welcoming environment for people of all ages and abilities.
Designed with accessibility at its core
Designed to be welcoming, intuitive and accessible to all, the leisure centre supports a wide range of physical, sensory and cognitive needs. Accessibility measures are integrated throughout the building, informed by ongoing collaboration with local accessibility groups, including Neurodiversity Irishtown, Ringsend and Pearse Street. Their input has helped shape a facility that responds directly to the people and communities it will serve.
Shaped by community voices
Since the project’s inception in September 2024, Irishtown Leisure Centre has been shaped through extensive engagement with more than 20 local organisations, community groups and sporting stakeholders. Public consultation included a four-hour consultation event and an online survey that received 425 responses, demonstrating strong support for new leisure and swimming facilities.
A dedicated Community Consultative Group, comprising local residents, community representatives and key stakeholders, continues to meet regularly to inform the project’s development. Engagement with further organisations, including Crusaders AC, St Patrick’s CYFC, Liffey Wanderers FC, Swim Ireland, Athletics Ireland, Leinster Athletics and the FAI, has helped ensure the facility responds to both community aspirations and sporting needs.
Extending activity into the landscape
Beyond the building itself, the project places equal emphasis on the surrounding landscape. New pedestrian and cycle connections from Strand Street and Bremen Road will improve access to the site and link to a welcoming arrival terrace at the centre of the development. Outdoor exercise trails, fitness stations and natural play spaces will be integrated within the parkland setting, encouraging everyday physical activity and reinforcing the leisure centre’s role as a community asset extending beyond its walls.
This approach reflects a wider ambition to make activity part of everyday life, creating opportunities for movement, social interaction and recreation throughout the site while preserving the character of the existing parkland landscape.
Architecture rooted in local identity
Drawing on the maritime and industrial character of Irishtown and Ringsend, the building is shaped by a robust palette of wet-dash and precast concrete that reflects the texture and materiality of its surroundings. References to the working landscape of Dublin Port are woven throughout the design, while blue accents acknowledge the area’s sporting and maritime heritage. Together, these elements create a civic building that is both contemporary and recognisably part of its community.
Raising the benchmark for sustainable leisure design
Sustainability has been a defining principle throughout the design process. The project is targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification and a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) A rating, establishing a new benchmark for public leisure facilities in Ireland. Developed using Passivhaus principles and supported by a Soft Landings approach to long-term operational performance, the project has also secured SEAI EXEED funding in recognition of its energy-efficient design ambitions.
Looking ahead
With Part 8 planning approval now secured, Dublin City Council and the wider design team will progress the project towards procurement, with construction anticipated to commence in Q4 2027 and completion targeted for Q2 2029. The leisure centre will provide a lasting investment in community health, wellbeing and recreation, creating an inclusive destination that serves both existing and future generations.
Project quotes
“Designed to encourage activity as part of everyday life, the landscape weaves opportunities for movement, recreation and social interaction through the site, while enhancing the character and accessibility of the existing parkland.” Aisling Cleary, Senior Associate, FaulknerBrowns
“Developed through close collaboration with local clubs and stakeholders, Irishtown Leisure Centre has been shaped around a shared vision for a welcoming and inclusive facility. Securing Part 8 approval is a major milestone in delivering a transformative civic asset that will support active living, inclusive participation and community wellbeing.”
Aisling Cleary, Senior Associate, FaulknerBrowns
“Irishtown Leisure Centre represents a major investment in community health, inclusion and public space for the south inner city. FaulknerBrowns have demonstrated a rigorous and inclusive design process, bringing together strong architectural quality, high sustainability ambitions and a deep understanding of the local context. The proposals respond carefully to Irishtown and Ringsend’s character while delivering a modern, accessible facility that will serve both existing and emerging communities.”
Don Daly, Senior Executive Officer, Dublin City Council