The National Ice Sports Arena (NISA) in Santry, which is the Republic’s only competition size ice sports rink, announced today that Electric Ireland will supply its electricity requirements. The arena, which opened for testing and training in April 2012, will play host to hockey, curling and figure skating teams from all over the country. It will open to the general public in October.
As part the contract Electric Ireland will supply electricity and energy efficiency measures to the Dublin-based centre. The arena will host competitive fixtures and act as a world-class training and development centre for Ireland’s ice sport athletes with the full support of the three main national governing bodies – the Irish Ice Hockey Association (IIHA), the Irish Curling Federation (ICF), and the Irish Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI).
Announcing the contract today, Electric Ireland’s General Manager Liam Molloy, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with the centre, and to be part of bringing such a valuable training facility to the capital. We are looking forward to working with the arena to develop a highly flexible, innovative contract which will help drive cost-savings and energy efficiency for the rink in the months to come.”
Mark Bowes, spokesperson for the National Ice Sports Rink said: “We are pleased to be working with Electric Ireland and are hopeful about the energy efficiency we can achieve in the years to come and excited to be able to give Dublin a permanent competitive size ice rink, which will mean teams will no longer have to travel to get ice time. Now the Olympic qualifiers, world championships, international games and national championships can all find a home in Dublin.”
Electric Ireland, part of ESB, provides tailored energy solutions to business customers throughout the island of Ireland. In addition to supplying electricity and gas Electric Ireland provides a wide range of energy consulting products that assist customers in better managing their energy consumption, driving efficiencies and helping reduce costs.
The National Ice Sports Arena opened for training in April 2012 and is the home of curling, ice skating and ice hockey in Ireland. The 10,000sq foot ice pad provides the national governing bodies of the three sports with an international regulation size ice surface in which to develop athletes from grass roots to professional and Olympic standard. The arena will open to the general public later this year.