Ireland has opened its first dedicated esports facility in County Cork.
The National Esports Centre is a result of a €1m (~£844,655) investment resulting in the creation of ten new jobs in the city.
First reported by The Irish Times, the centre is already looking to expand its offerings, with additional roles across gaming, media, and digital technology expected to appear in the future. The facility was first revealed in December 2024 and has opened in collaboration with Irish organisation WYLDE, national esports body Ireland Esports, and game developer VOID Interactive.
Teams and players based in Ireland will use the facility to train for upcoming events, including the European Esports Championship, which held its inaugural championship in 2023. The 2025 edition of the event will take place in Pristina, Kosovo, from July 9th to 13th and will feature male and female competitions in Counter-Strike 2 and a 12-team Dota 2 tournament.
In addition to WYLDE and VOID Interactive, the National Esports Centre is partnered with gaming furniture manufacturer Noblechairs. The manufacturer has previously supported the opening of esports facilities. In April 2023, it joined forces with Endpoint to assist with the organisation opening its headquarters.
The past five years have been a period of growth for the esports industry in Ireland. After becoming a member of the Global Esports Federation in 2020, WYLDE has spearheaded the growth of the industry in the country. In 2023, the organisation partnered with the Belfast Metropolitan College to launch the country’s first esports degree.
“The National Esports Centre is a first for Ireland and marks a major milestone for the gaming sector in this country,” said Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach. “This innovative hub will offer unparalleled facilities in gaming, media, and digital technology, and I’m delighted it will place Cork on the global stage of gaming.”
