“I think we should be very confident about the future of padel in Ireland.”
This September marks an exciting time in the Padel calendar, with the Irish Veteran padel squad heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to compete at the FIP Seniors Padel World Cup.
Padel may seem to have exploded recently, with courts and clubs popping up all over the country, but it has been quietly becoming Ireland’s fastest-growing sport since 2012.
“The early years were characterised by slow and steady growth, and in many ways that was a real advantage for us”, explains Naomi Nicholl, CEO of the Padel Federation of Ireland.
“Our focus has always been on building a sport, not simply building participation. We want someone coming into padel to have a pathway, whatever their ambition, whether that is playing socially, becoming more competitive, developing as a coach, getting involved as a volunteer or official, or ultimately representing Ireland.”
Padel communities across Ireland are welcoming more and more people onto the court as they seek to improve their fitness and embrace it as a social outlet.
“I think padel has a unique combination of accessibility, activity and social connection”, Naomi says. “You can pick up a racket and enjoy your first game without needing years of experience, but there is also enormous depth to the sport as you develop. It challenges you physically and tactically, while the doubles format makes it naturally social.
“The physical benefits are obvious. Padel is a great way to improve fitness, movement, coordination and agility, but I think the social and wellbeing benefits are equally important.
“Padel can bring people together and create a strong sense of community, while also giving people the opportunity to learn new skills, concentrate, make decisions and challenge themselves. Like any sport, the benefits extend well beyond the court.”
Eoghan O’Hara, Country Head at Raisin Ireland, says there is a huge sense of pride in being part of padel’s growth in Ireland.
“As an official sponsor of the Padel Federation of Ireland, we are immensely proud to back a sport that is capturing the imagination of communities right across the country”, he says. “Padel is currently the fastest-growing sport in the world, and seeing its phenomenal surge in Ireland has been pretty incredible. For us at Raisin, this partnership is all about investing in local sport and local community, and helping the Federation keep up with the ever-growing demand for Padel.”
Raisin Ireland is a free online savings marketplace that gives Irish savers direct access to competitive interest rates from over 35 European partner banks through a single account.
“Historically, Irish consumers have left billions in low-yielding deposit accounts”, Eoghan explains. “We offer an alternative by making it easy to compare and open savings accounts across Europe, helping your hard-earned money work as hard as you do.”
Just as looking after your physical health and exercise should be a priority in life, Eoghan says financial health is equally as important.
“Padel is a rapidly emerging sport not just in Ireland, but across the entire EU, and at Raisin, we feel we’re on a similar journey. Ultimately, looking after your physical health and your financial health go hand in hand. Whether you’re picking up a padel racket for the first time or taking five minutes to check if your savings are getting a fair return, taking action makes all the difference.”
“Sponsors such as Raisin play a vital role in helping us develop the sport”, Naomi says. “There is a huge amount of work behind the scenes in creating the structures, programmes and opportunities that people see on court.
“For the Irish Veterans team, Raisin’s support provides valuable practical assistance as they prepare to represent Ireland at the World Championships. That support is hugely appreciated by both the players and the Federation.
“But it also represents something broader. Strong partnerships allow us to continue investing in player development, coaching, competition and grassroots opportunities. Building a sustainable sport is a collective effort. Players, coaches, clubs, volunteers, officials, the Federation and our commercial partners all have a role to play. Raisin’s support is an excellent example of how that partnership can help create opportunities and strengthen the sport.”
As the Irish Veterans team prepares to represent the country on the international stage this September, the buzz around the big event is palpable.
“They should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved”, Naomi says encouragingly. “Representing your country at a World Championship is a fantastic accomplishment. Some of these athletes have been part of the sport in Ireland since its very beginnings, and they have been instrumental in shaping the success of padel today.
“Our women’s team, in particular, were previously ranked top 10 at the European Championships, which is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the resilience, commitment and hard work they have shown over many years. We are incredibly proud of them, not only for what they have achieved on court, but for the contribution they have made to the growth of padel in Ireland. My advice would be to go to Argentina with confidence, compete hard, support one another and, most importantly, enjoy the experience. They have earned their place, so they should embrace it and take pride in representing Ireland.
“They are also ambassadors for padel, and I hope they can show everyone what our players are capable of. We will all be behind them.”
“Qualifying for the World Championships in Argentina is a fantastic achievement and obviously a really exciting time for everyone involved with Padel in Ireland”, Eoghan echoes the support. “Everybody at Raisin wishes the team a safe trip and the very best of luck in the tournament. Give it your best and enjoy every second!”
The sky is the limit for how much the sport will continue to grow in the coming years and decades. It has already become part of the lives and hearts of so many players across the country, and Naomi says the future lies in building on those strong foundations.
“I think we should be very confident about the future of padel in Ireland. We have built strong foundations and established the structures needed to support the sport as it continues to grow”, she explains.
“Our focus now is to continue to build on those foundations, supporting clubs to create sustainable opportunities within their communities for people to participate, develop, compete and progress — from juniors taking their first steps in the sport through to competitive players and those who want to contribute as coaches, officials or volunteers.
“Inclusion is central to that approach. From an early stage, we recognised the opportunity to develop the sport across all sectors and built that into our strategy. This is where the support of corporate partners such as Raisin is particularly valuable. Their support not only helps our teams compete on the international stage, but also enables us to continue developing opportunities across the wider sport.”
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Raisin Bank, trading as Raisin, is authorised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) in Germany and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.