A new £67m (US$86.9m, €79.8m) cultural and environmental Eden Project tourist attraction, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is to be built in Northern Ireland and is expected to open in 2023. Eden Project Foyle will cover a 100-hectare (250-acre) site along the banks of the River Foyle near Derry-Londonderry, brining previously inaccessible land, three historic walled gardens and an 18th-century icehouse back into use. The destination will feature a range of

Ireland's first Forest Spa, the Aqua Sana Spa, is set to open at the upcoming Center Parcs Longford Forest resort in Ballymahon, Ireland in early August. The Aqua Sana Spa will boast a unique forest concept developed by spa consultancy Sparcstudio, in partnership with Holder Mathias Architects and Sisk Group. Neil Fairplay, director of Sparcstudio, said: "Sparcstudio have created and designed the new 'Forest Spa' concept for Centre Parcs which

A U2 attraction in the heart of Dublin could become one of Ireland's most visited tourist sites, with plans unveiled for an exhibition centre dedicated to the band on the capital's waterfront. To be developed on Hannover Quay – the current site of the band's existing recording studio – the new three storey complex will display a selection of never-before-seen U2 memorabilia collected over the four decades of the group's

Cricket Ireland has confirmed plans to develop a new national cricket stadium west Dublin, just months after the country secured Test status on the international stage. The national governing body has chosen Dublin’s National Sports Campus as the location for the venue. The move is part of a strategy to meet the requirements of future international and domestic first-class cricket in Ireland. Ireland was given full membership of the International

Adare Manor, Country Limerick’s historic hotel and golf resort, has re-opened its doors after a multi-million-euro redevelopment, planned to establish a ”new legacy” as Ireland’s leading luxury resort. Led by ReardonSmith Architects, the large-scale project has included the creation of new buildings as well as the restoration and refurbishment of existing properties, joined by interconnecting spaces Meanwhile, the repair and enhancement of the surrounding 840-acre estate – complete with manicured

It was built as a grandiose home for an 18th-century archbishop, and later became a luxury hotel frequented by the likes of Ronald Reagan, Jacqueline Kennedy and Richard Burton. Now Ireland’s Cashel Palace Hotel is set to be given a new lease of life, courtesy of architecture and design firm ReardonSmith. The building – designed in an Early Georgian style by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, the architect of the Old

Work is underway on a vast new riverside sports park in Cork, Ireland, which will surround the city’s regenerated Páirc Uí Chaoimh Gaelic games stadium. Demolition has begun to clear space for phase one of Marina Park – a €20m development created around the stadium and the adjoining agricultural Munster Showgrounds. The phase one masterplan published by the city council is focused on the area to the west of the

National sporting infrastructure in Ireland has received a major boost with the delivery of the €41m (US$44m, £35m) National Indoor Arena in Dublin, which will be officially opened today (26 January). Located within the wider National Sports Campus, the new 44,500sqm (479,000sq ft) facility can accommodate 1,900 spectators and host 20 multi-disciplinary sports. It includes an internationally certified running track and training hub for athletics, a gymnastics centre, a 12

by Kim Megson | 24 Aug 2016

Hotel, train and river-cruise operator Belmond will launch “Ireland’s first luxury rail experience” on 30 August, with 10 sleeper carriages designed by James Park Associates to evoke Dublin’s Georgian architecture. The Belmond Grand Hibernian – which can carry up to 40 passengers in 20 en-suite cabins - will transport guests on three-day journeys across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, stopping in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. Belmond purchased the

by Matthew Campelli | 20 Jan 2016

The Northern Irish government has expressed its commitment to redeveloping Belfast’s Casement Park stadium in a bid to bring the 2023 Rugby World Cup to Ireland. Belfast's Casement Park is at the heart of the joint bid Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland put forward to host the tournament, but work on the 38,000-capacity Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) venue – which was originally scheduled for completion in 2015 –

by Alice Davis | 28 Jul 2014

Tayto Park – one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions – has had a planning application for a €25m (£19.8m, $33.6m) expansion and world-class roller coaster approved by the local council. Meath County Council granted permission to develop a new entrance, car parking and visitor facilities as well as the roller coaster and additional new rides. The wooden roller coaster, to be designed and built by US wood-coaster specialists Gravity

by Jessica Tasman-Jones | 20 Feb 2013

Planning permission has been granted for an 18,000-capacity stadium at Windsor Park in Northern Ireland, in the fastest turnaround ever for a major planning application. The Irish Football Association (IFA) submitted the application for two new stands and an extension of the north and west stands in early December and permission was granted in 11 weeks. The project is part of a £110m pledge by Northern Ireland sports minister Caral

by Pete Hayman | 05 Jul 2012

Image: Belfast's Windsor Park is to be redeveloped Hamilton Architects have been appointed by the Irish Football Association (IFA) to lead the integrated consulting team for Northern Ireland's National Stadium Project. The Belfast-based design practice joins Edmond Shipway, Arup, Rider Levett Bucknall and Ben Veenbrink on working on the multi-million pound stadium development. Designs are to be drawn up for an 18,000-capacity venue on the site of the existing national

by Pete Hayman | 03 Jul 2012

A new £18.5m visitor centre has opened today (3 July) at the Giant's Causeway - Northern Ireland's sole UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the County Antrim coast. The building - designed by Dublin, Ireland-based heneghan.peng - is inspired by the site's 40,000 hexagonal basalt stones and the legends of giants Finn McCool and Benandonner. Event Communications has worked on the interpretative design of the centre, which includes interactive experiences

by Pete Hayman | 16 May 2011

Architecture Tours Ireland - a new joint venture between the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) - has been officially launched. Jimmy Deenihan, the Irish minister for arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht, has given his support to the scheme, which aims to generate interest in architecture as a cultural form. Architecture Tours Ireland is already working with tourism agency Fáilte Ireland in order