Padel 100, Ireland’s largest padel development company, has announced a major initiative to provide schools across the country with free padel courts. More than 20 schools have already joined the program, with 50 new courts scheduled for installation nationwide in the coming months. The rollout is designed to make sport more accessible and community-driven for the next generation, offering schools world-class facilities at no capital cost.
A sustainable model for schools and communities
Under the initiative, Padel 100 fully funds the purchase and installation of the courts. Schools benefit not only from free infrastructure but also from ongoing royalty payments generated by public bookings outside school hours. This model creates a new income stream for education and extracurricular activities while giving communities access to modern sporting hubs. According to the Playtomic Global Padel Report 2026, padel is the world’s fastest-growing sport, with a new club opening every 100 minutes worldwide.
CEO Ben Keohane on giving back
Announcing the project, Co-Founder and CEO Ben Keohane explained the vision behind the initiative. “This is about giving back to schools and communities. We’re creating facilities that students can use during the school day while also building hubs for local families, clubs, and communities in the evenings, weekends, and school holidays. Many schools simply don’t have the funding available for projects like this, so we wanted to remove that barrier entirely,” he said. Keohane added that Padel 100 operates the courts commercially outside school hours to recoup its investment, describing the model as a sustainable partnership between education and sport.
Growth beyond schools
Padel 100 is also expanding into hotels, leisure centres, sports complexes, and community facilities as demand for padel continues to rise. The company expects to have 49 courts fully operational by early July and more than 100 courts committed across Ireland by Christmas 2026. Its long-term goal includes installing an additional 100 courts directly into schools as part of a broader youth participation strategy.
Investment and future plans
Founded in 2025, Padel 100 has quickly become Ireland’s largest padel rollout company, backed by over 190 private investors. To date, it has raised more than €3 million under Ireland’s Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS), which offers tax relief to qualifying investors. Head of Investment Nathan McSharry highlighted the impact of these funds. “All investment funds are being directly deployed into purchasing and installing courts nationwide. Individuals interested in becoming part of the expansion can learn more at www.padelinvestor.eu and I will be delighted to talk people through the process,” he commented.
Padel 100’s initiative represents one of the most ambitious school sports infrastructure projects in Ireland, combining education, community engagement, and sustainable investment to strengthen the country’s sporting future.
