Clendennen cites potential for Midlands Events Centre in Offaly

Offaly's potential as a location for a major multi-functional events centre in the Midlands "warrants serious examination", a local Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy John Clendennen raised the idea directly with the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann this week, against the backdrop of approximately 300,000 people coming to Offaly over a matter of weeks for the Tullamore Show and the National Ploughing Championships.

He has called for a feasibility study to examine the potential to develop a facility capable of catering for both indoor and outdoor events and attracting major national and international events to the region.

“The starting point for me is very simple. Offaly has repeatedly demonstrated an exceptional capacity to host major events, and I believe we should examine whether there is an opportunity to build on that.

“The Tullamore Show and the National Ploughing Championships demonstrate what can be achieved here. They also demonstrate the enormous economic impact major events can have on accommodation, hospitality, retail and businesses throughout the wider area.

“I believe the potential for a dedicated, multi-functional events facility in the Midlands warrants proper examination. That doesn’t mean deciding today what it should look like, where exactly it should be located or how it should be funded. It means establishing whether there is sufficient market demand and, if there is, determining what model could work," Deputy Clendennen said.

Responding to Deputy Clendennen in the Dáil, the Taoiseach pointed to the experience of the National Convention Centre and Cork Events Centre and indicated that, in his view, any new facility would need to be fundamentally driven by the private sector.

Deputy Clendennen said a feasibility and market-demand exercise could examine precisely those questions, including the potential role of private investment and partnership with the public sector.

“If the view is that the private sector would have to play the leading role, then let’s establish whether that private-sector interest exists. Let’s examine the market, the potential economic return, the infrastructure requirements and the appropriate delivery and operating model.

“We shouldn’t dismiss an opportunity for the Midlands without first establishing the facts," the Deputy added.

Deputy Clendennen has now written to Offaly County Council seeking an opportunity to discuss the proposal and how its potential could be explored further.

“I believe Offaly has a particularly strong case to make. We are centrally located, we have considerable experience of major event management, and we already have an established reputation through events such as the National Ploughing Championships and Tullamore Show.

“This is also about looking beyond individual events and asking what additional economic activity we can bring into Offaly and the Midlands throughout the year.

“Fáilte Ireland’s Corporate Strategy 2026-2029 specifically identifies spreading regional growth and developing a stronger, year-round tourism sector as an objective. A facility capable of attracting conferences, exhibitions, entertainment, sporting and other events to the Midlands is an idea that deserves to be tested against that ambition.

“If the feasibility and market-demand work ultimately shows that the proposition isn’t viable, then we will have an evidence base for that conclusion. Equally, if it identifies a genuine opportunity for Offaly and the Midlands, we should be in a position to pursue it.

“Offaly has proven that it can host major national events. I believe it is worth establishing whether we can turn that strength into a more permanent economic and tourism opportunity for the county and the wider Midlands," Deputy Clendennen concluded.