Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo) will outline its new National Watersports Campus (NWC) at the south Dublin-hosted World Sailing Conference on Monday, 3 November.
The presentation to the World Sailing Classes Committee will be delivered by Harbour Operations Manager Tim Ryan and NWC project lead Paddy Boyd, who will take questions from over 30 of the world’s most influential sailing classes.
DLRCoCo says the NWC will enhance Dún Laoghaire’s position as a “world-class venue for international sailing events”.
The project, first approved in 2023, has entered the design and planning phase following a €1 million contract award earlier this year. The NWC will feature a training and events building, an all-tide slipway, and improved launching and storage facilities at Ireland's biggest boating centre.
According to the council, the initiative aims to integrate the area’s existing watersport infrastructure and open new opportunities for community and elite participation.
Dún Laoghaire’s international sailing profile remains strong. The tenth Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta in July attracted 400 entries as Ireland's biggest sailing event, while next year the harbour will host the 2026 ILCA 7 World Championships, one of the sport’s top Olympic-class events.
The World Sailing Conference will bring more than 400 delegates from over 60 countries to Dún Laoghaire, underlining the town’s growing global sailing reputation.
A DLRCoCo spokesperson described the campus as “a key step in strengthening Dún Laoghaire’s leadership in watersports and marine recreation.”
Listen to Tim Ryan talk about the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Masterplan here
