COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, October 21, 2019

QUESTION NO. 29

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the CEO to present an update on his ongoing efforts to attract tourists to Tallaght and will he detail his strategy in that regard?"

REPLY:

"The South Dublin County Tourism Strategy launched in 2015 envisaged the development of a Tallaght Sports and Activity Cluster. The proposal included a number of options for projects that would interpret and make accessible sporting facilities and activities in order to develop a tourism experience. These actions include: 

The new South Stand at Tallaght Stadium was officially opened on 25 March 2019 bringing the capacity of the venue to 8,000 further enhancing its reputation as one of the premier sporting facilities in the country. The stadium provides the home ground for all Shamrock Rovers' games in the Airtricity League and the stadium has hosted many prestigious events, such as the Special Olympics’ Opening Ceremony in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid debut, many memorable nights in Europe for Shamrock Rovers and international football matches. The venue is home to the FAI National Women’s team and the FAI U21 team. It was also chosen as a host venue for the UEFA European U/17 Championship, held in Ireland during May 2019 where seven games were played in Tallaght, including a quarter-final, semi-final and the Final.

The proposed development of the North Stand and remodelled corporate area of the Main Stand continues with the appointment of the Design Team Architects in September 2019. These enhancements will allow the venue to attract sporting and non-sporting events such as business and community events to Tallaght. It is anticipated that with the proposed development of the improved Corporate Area in the Main Stand, the venue will attract more business and corporate events as well as becoming a unique venue for hosting weddings. The Council will continue to encourage visitors to the venue from both within the County and outside the County, and in this vein Dublin’s Outdoors, South Dublin County Council’s tourism brand, has supported a number of family friendly, sporting and activity events at Tallaght Stadium in the past few years such as Gaelforce Dublin, South Dublin On Ice and the Circus.

The Council has recently engaged an operator to organise an outdoor food and beverage market to coincide with the now annual Christmas Craft Fair at County Library. Furthermore, events like the Red Line Book Festival, which uses venues in Tallaght and across the County, also contribute to developing the attraction of Tallaght and South Dublin County in the eye of the visitor.

The Council’s Tourism Events and Festivals Grant, which is advertised twice a year in local press, on the council’s website and through social media, encourages event organisers to consider South Dublin County as a location to host their events. Funding is contingent on the number of out of county and out of country visitors attracted to the event. Since 2018 the fund has supported events such as 5k road race, an international martial arts contest, and an international basketball competition, all of whom brought national and international visitors to Tallaght.

The Council recently sought 3 South Dublin Councillors nominees for the Dodder Greenway Steering Group The purpose of the Dodder Greenway Steering Group is as follows:

To ensure that appropriate support is provided to assist the delivery of the on-going preliminary design and planning stages in Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and the continued progression of the detailed design, delivery and on-going maintenance stages of the Dodder Greenway project in South Dublin and subsequently Dun Laoghaire and Dublin City and to actively engage in seeking and supporting the delivery of appropriate funding streams.

Information on events held in Tallaght and across the county aimed at the visitor market is available on dublinsoutdoors.ie and various social media platforms. Furthermore, tourist and visitor information is provided through a network of brochure information stands placed in various hotels and attractions across Dublin."