Prime Arena Meets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney During Visit to Ireland

Prime Arena was delighted to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to Ireland and to discuss a project that has become a tangible example of modern Canada–Ireland collaboration.

A sincere thank you to Canadian Ambassador Dennis King and the Embassy of Canada in Ireland for the invitation to attend the inaugural De Chastelain Public Lecture at Trinity College Dublin, where Prime Minister Carney delivered a thoughtful and compelling address on Canada’s future, economic opportunity and the importance of international partnership. Following the lecture, Prime Arena Holdings CEO Dermot Rigley was pleased to meet Prime Minister Carney and discuss the progress being made on Ireland’s first Olympic-standard winter sports and entertainment arena.

What began as an ambition to deliver a world-class venue for Ireland has evolved into something much broader — bringing together Canadian and Irish investors, business leaders, athletes and sporting organisations behind a shared vision. Today, more than 40% of the capital invested in Prime Arena prior to the current funding round has come from Canadian investors. The project has also attracted the support and involvement of some of ice hockey’s most respected figures, including Pat Flatley, Rob Blake, Glen Murray, Cory Cross, Jake Evans and Alex Newhook. It was also a pleasure to catch up with longtime Prime Arena supporter and friend James Maloney MP, whose commitment to strengthening ties between Canada and Ireland is widely recognised.

Prime Arena is more than an arena project. It represents an opportunity to deepen connections between Ireland and Canada through sport, tourism, business, culture and international events, creating a lasting legacy for future generations. As we look ahead to Canada–Ireland 180 in 2027, projects such as Prime Arena demonstrate the strength of the relationship between our two countries and the opportunities created when that partnership is translated into action. A memorable afternoon celebrating a friendship between two nations that continues to grow stronger.