Taoiseach Micheál Martin has officially opened Ireland’s first dedicated esports complex, the National Esports Centre, in Cork.
The €1m centre provides a state-of-the-art gaming facility and has created 10 new jobs with more expected to follow as the centre continues to expand.
The Centre will be a hub for professional esports athletes, aspiring gamers, developers, gaming researchers, students and innovators.
It will host a WYLDE professional esports academy, digital media and gaming camps for students, as well as partnerships with education and research organisations.
Located on South Mall in the centre of Cork City, the centre also boasts a tournament zone equipped for national and international esports competitions.
Speaking at the opening of the National Esports Centre, Martin said: “The National Esports Centre is a first for Ireland and marks a major milestone for the gaming sector in this country.
"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.”
Steve Daly, Ireland Esports Chair & WYLDE CEO highlighted the impact of the opening, saying: “The National Esports Centre is a game-changer for Ireland, both nationally and internationally.
"This facility will drive the esports industry and ecosystem in Ireland forward through innovation, education and community engagement, all within a world-class facility here in Cork.
"Our focus on dynamic teaching environments, collaborative learning and innovation, sustainable career pathways and a responsible culture will ensure that the National Esports Centre stands at the forefront of esports development both in Ireland and globally.”
Ireland-based studio, VOID Interactive, the developers behind the popular game title Ready or Not, have partnered with the National Esports Centre.
“As an Irish-based gaming studio, we are thrilled to partner with the National Esports Centre to focus on their endeavour in building and developing a world-class hub for professional gamers,” said Philip Nathan CFO of VOID Interactive.
"We are focused on building a lasting partnership that further strengthens the gaming footprint in Ireland, providing a haven for groundbreaking ideas to flourish".
With top-tier AV and broadcast technology, the new Centre is also primed for corporate events, training sessions and digital content creation.
It will also support the delivery of the Digital Skills and Esports College, offering accredited education programmes developed to equip students with essential industry skills.
The new centre also serves as an elite training ground for Irish esports teams preparing for major global competitions.
Irish and international delegations will train at the Centre for events such as the European Esports Championships in July 2025, the World Esports Championships, the Global Esports Games, and the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2027.
The gaming industry continues to experience rapid growth, with global video game revenue—including esports—reaching $227.6bn in 2023, a 4.6% increase from the previous year.
This trajectory places revenue on track to exceed $300bn by 2028, solidifying gaming as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the entertainment and media industry, according to a recent PWC Report on Global Entertainment & Media 2024-2028.
Photography by Gerard McCarthy
