ICE DOME DIRECTOR QUASHES RUMOURS

Sam Curran of Innovative Leisure Systems, who headed the Dundalk project when it was first set up some years ago, said the plans for the multi-million pound Olympic ice rink are on schedule, with the opening expected to take place mid-November this year.

It is understood the Dundalk rink closed soon after the plans for a dome in Banbridge were announced. However, it was expected to re-open for an ice hockey summer league in the summer but remained closed this week.

Mr Curran, who stopped running the Dundalk rink three years ago, said the people of Banbridge and beyond can be assured they will get their semi-permanent ice rink by Christmas.

"I met with the council last week and everything is good to go," Mr Curran told the Leader. "The building itself is due to arrive in October and it takes about four weeks to set up after that so everything should be in place by mid-November."

The dome will operate on two back-to-back nine-month contracts with Land Securities at Bridgewater Park and could even be expanded to include a water facility as well as doubling up as an indoor sports arena in the summer months. Mr Curran said the location has great potential for attracting hordes of visitors.

"Banbridge is the third of eight sites we hope to have across Ireland over the course of the next few years," he said. "There are around 200,000 visits annually to the centre in Dundalk so I am confident Banbridge can attract a huge number of people."

One Leader reader contacted the paper to make sure the dome is still set to go ahead near the Outlet, stressing the rink's economic benefit to the area.

"I would be particularly interested in it from an employment perspective," said the mother-of-two. "I think it is something that will be great for the town and its people."