 Poster: A snowHead
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An ambitious plan to develop a 60m Euro snowdome in the Republic of Ireland has been approved by planners, with 31 conditions imposed on its developers. The scheme would transform a disused gravel quarry and surrounding land near Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow. The developers promise two main slopes, a teaching area, landscaped tropical beach, a lagoon and warm water pools fed from natural springs on the site...
The local authority responsible has approved the plans, subject to the developers installing a number of support services, access roads etc.
This report from Business World.
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The Irish Republic has a thriving ski community. The Ski Club of Ireland built a successful artificial ski slope, so the enthusiasm certainly exists for a scheme like this. Any comments on whether it will work, from anyone who knows the local scene?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 2-02-05 13:13; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Fantastic, it's 15 min up the road from me.
I'd say it will do well. Kilternan ski slope is nearby but it is very limiting for anyone who wants to do more than beginner lessons or a quick refresher before a holiday.
This would be a genuine leisure alternative for us to spend our new-found wealth on.
It's about half an hour south of Dublin, in case any of you were wondering.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I think its a great idea and cant wait until its open. Just wonder how much a season pass is going to cost!!
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i have a feeling it would work, depending on pricing of passes of course...... us up north would probably use it because there is basically nothing else
ad
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'd love to see it go ahead but I just can't believe there is a big enough market in Ireland to justify a €60m investment.
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That's great news !!
Although its a pity that they are building it so near to the only other ski slope in Ireland !! It might have made more sense to build it North of Dublin.
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I would be reluctant to use the artificial slope in Kilternan again after a nasty thumb incident so bring on the snowdome!!!
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I've got a bad feeling about this. Thoughts of Millennium Dome springs to mind. I wonder have they done their feasibility costings as to the potential market. Yes there is an increased affluence in Ireland because of the strong economy. But the market is quite small with a base of 4 millon people with a historically low interest in skiing. Perhaps that is now changing - it is after all just gone 20 years since I lived there - so things may have changed a lot since then.
Any comments, particularly from residents from the Republic of Ireland, would be welcomed. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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A developer was looking to get planning permission in North Dublin for a Disneyland style complex. That didn't sound very feasible either however it was probably a trojan horse so they could build loads of houses and never get around to building the leisure facilities.
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Sonya, I expect that they're utilising the existing topography on the site in the Wicklow Mts; both to "hide" the development to an extent and to reduce the amount of earthworks. I wouldn't have thought there's too many suitable sites north of Dublin.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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You might be right Peter - hadn't thought of that. The Fingal Disneyland was a more obvious red herring when it was announced.
hibernia, Skiing has really caught on in Ireland in the 25 - 35 year old college graduate band. Unlike in Britain, very few of us would have been skiing with our parents but I think we'll be the generation to make it mainstream. There will be little kids tearing down slopes all over Europe in 15 years time with Irish accents.
A snowdome would definitely boost the profile even more.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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paddyblack There will be little kids tearing down slopes all over Europe in 15 years time with Irish accents.
A snowdome would definitely boost the profile even more.[/quote]
But in the process will that enterprise go bust?. Its seems very ambitious and I wish it luck to achieve a critical mass. But is that critical mass there at the moment that would make it a profitable proposition?
In a professional capacity I have seen too many companies go down the drain as their dreams exceeded their potential.
Would anyone from this venture care to comment on the prospects for this venture?
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laundryman, probably true
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You know it makes sense.
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hibernia, I've no idea if it will work. Their market seems very fragmented with an odd mix of faculities (golf, beach and the slopes). You're much more sympathetic to business than I am; I wasn't very concerned about their chances of making money - only on my chances of skiing the slopes.  Unlike the Millenium Dome, it's not being funded by taxpayers.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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i have to say that i'm surprised about the proposed size, type and location of the venture - re the size, then surely something a little more like one of the Xscapes with complementary facilities such as climbing walls, childcare facilities (like NRG play warehouse in City West), cinema, bowling alley etc. located off the M1 Northbound/ close to M50 would have the best reach in terms of attracting the largest possible cross-section of the Irish population (north and south)
... think the tropical beach aspect is absolutely laughable
...anyone who has had the misfortune to be in Newtownmountkennedy will understand that it is several shades removed from an idyllic caribbean setting 
still, it would be great to have an option other than the finger/elbow/shoulder/collar-bone munching dry slope that is kilternan
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
There will be little kids tearing down slopes all over Europe in 15 years time with Irish accents.
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Arinsal four or five years ago was already full of gurriers in shell suits
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Latchigo, no stereo-typing there then. Were they all called Paddy by any chance??? 
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http://www.snowpiste.com
check this irish snowsports site out. with webcams, snow reports etc.......
the weather reports - dec 2002 - are slightly out of date 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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anyone heard if this snowdome is happening in ireland.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I spend a lot of time working with the Ski Club of Ireland and they aren't aware of any movement on this project.
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Thank you for your reply. Really wish they would get something of the ground as it would make life a lot easier and cheaper. 
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I always seem to hear a lot of Irish skiers around St Gervais /Chamonix. But 60m seems a little bit short.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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has anyone heard anything about the snowdome type thing in dundalk?
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FAQ
