The Connacht GAA Air Dome, a multimillion-euro sports facility in Bekan, Co. Mayo, has been severely damaged by Storm Éowyn, with the powerful winds causing the structure’s inflated roof to collapse early this morning.
The facility, which opened in July 2020 and was officially named the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome, had become a vital venue for indoor sports, hosting games across various levels regardless of weather conditions. However, the overnight storm, which brought record-breaking wind speeds, destroyed the inflatable roof of the Air Dome around 4am.
Connacht GAA secretary John Prenty confirmed the damage in a statement to RTÉ Sport, explaining that they had not been able to access the site due to dangerous winds. “We have been unable to get out to the site to assess the damage as the winds are too high,” Prenty said. “The structure is fully insured, and we are committed to rebuilding it.”
The Air Dome, which cost over €3.5 million to construct, served as an essential facility for sports events in the region, including upcoming Sigerson, Fitzgibbon, and Ashbourne Cup fixtures. In addition, the National Frisbee Championship, which was scheduled to take place there tomorrow, has now been cancelled due to the damage.
“We will tidy up the site in the next week, and we will rebuild it,” Prenty added, expressing confidence that the facility would be restored as quickly as possible.
The dome, which covered an area of 150m by 100m, featured an inflatable roof that was anchored by a meter-high perimeter wall. Three pumping stations were used to keep the structure inflated and secure. However, the extreme weather conditions caused by Storm Éowyn have left the site inoperable for the immediate future.
The destruction of the Air Dome has a broader impact on upcoming sporting events, as it was an important venue for both regional and national competitions. The cancellation of events planned for the coming weeks is a significant disruption to the local and national sports calendar.
The storm’s effects were also felt by other sports facilities in the region. MEP Ciaran Mullooly shared images of a collapsed perimeter wall at Bishopsgate Stadium, home to League of Ireland’s Longford Town, highlighting the widespread damage caused by the storm.
While the full extent of the destruction is still being assessed, Connacht GAA has reassured the public that plans to rebuild the Air Dome are already in motion.
