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Where to Play Competitive Padel in Ireland: Every Level, From Team Ireland to Social Ladders (2026 Guide)

Where to Play Competitive Padel in Ireland: Every Level, From Team Ireland to Social Ladders (2026 Guide)

A few years ago, playing competitive padel in Ireland meant a handful of tournaments and a lot of travel. Today there is a full pathway, from a Tuesday night Americano at your club all the way to a green jersey at the FIP World Cup qualifiers. The hard part is knowing what exists, how the levels connect and where your next step is.

Here is the whole ladder, from the top down. The Padel Federation of Ireland (PFI) selects the Ireland national team for FIP international events. FIP tournaments held in Ireland (Limerick, Dublin and Belfast so far) award world ranking points. The Irish Padel Tour (IPT) is the national ranking circuit, and the Padel League of Ireland is the national inter-club team league. Below them sit regional leagues such as the Dublin Padel League and the Ireland Padel Series in Cork, then club championships, club round robins and, finally, social competition across clubs through the Playmate Ladder.

For each level, this guide explains who it is for, how it works, whether it carries ranking points and where to learn more, so you can see exactly where you fit and what to enter next.

Competitive padel in Ireland at a glance

Rank Competition Type Ranking points Run by
1 Ireland National Team (European and World championships, World Cup qualifiers) International, by selection Team results (FIP) Padel Federation of Ireland
2 FIP tournaments in Ireland (CUPRA FIP Tour) International pro tournament FIP world ranking points FIP with PFI and local organisers
3 Irish Padel Tour (CUPRA IPT) National tournament circuit Irish national ranking points Padel Federation of Ireland
4 Padel League of Ireland National inter-club team league Team standings, All-Ireland title Padel Federation of Ireland
5 Dublin Padel League, Ireland Padel Series (Cork) Regional team leagues League tables, internal rankings Independent organisers
6 Club championships Internal club tournament Club title Your club
7 Club round robins, Americanos, Mexicanos Internal social competition None (sometimes app levels) Your club
8 Playmate Ladder (cross-club) Social challenge ladder Ladder position Playmate app

1. The Ireland National Team (Padel Federation of Ireland)

Level: Highest. International competition representing Ireland.
Who it is for: Ireland's best Open, Senior (age band) and Junior players who are eligible to represent Ireland.
How to get in: By selection only.

The Padel Federation of Ireland (PFI) is the member federation for Ireland of the International Padel Federation (FIP). It selects the Ireland team for FIP sanctioned events such as the European Championships, the World Championships and the World Cup qualifiers. In September 2026, Ireland sent both a men's and a women's team to the FIP World Cup Qualifiers Europe in Madrid (22 to 26 September), part of the road to the World Cup in Doha. Ireland has also travelled with large senior squads, including 38 players to the World Senior Championships in Alicante in 2024.

How selection works: you must be eligible to represent Ireland under FIP rules and hold an active PFI licence. When a selection cycle opens, you declare your interest by the deadline, attend trials or an evaluation if required, and may be named in the wider National Squad. The event team is then picked from the squad roughly eight weeks before the competition, based on results, form, fitness, conduct and availability. Strong Irish Padel Tour results are the obvious way to get noticed.

Learn more:

2. FIP tournaments in Ireland (CUPRA FIP Tour)

Level: International professional tournaments, played on Irish soil.
Who it is for: Elite Irish players and visiting international pros.
Ranking: FIP world ranking points.

The International Padel Federation (FIP) runs the CUPRA FIP Tour, the international circuit that sits below Premier Padel. Results on this tour feed the official FIP world ranking, the same ranking used by the professionals. Ireland has now hosted three FIP events:

  • Limerick, November 2025: FIP Bronze. The first ever Padel Irish Open, held at Padel LK, Ireland's largest indoor padel centre. Organised by the PFI with ForeFront Group.
  • Moira (Belfast area), 1 to 5 July 2026: FIP Silver. The R3 Bullpadel Cup NI Open at Padel54, Northern Ireland's first professional padel event.
  • Dublin, 15 to 19 July 2026: FIP Silver. The Hiscox Padel Irish Open at Star Padel, St Mary's College RFC, Templeogue, with €18,000 in prize money.

How many FIP points can you win?

FIP points depend on the tournament category and how far you go. Here is the current FIP table for the categories most relevant to Ireland (source: FIP 2025 ranking system):

FIP category Winner Finalist Semi final Quarter final
FIP Platinum 300 180 90 50
FIP Gold 150 90 60 25
FIP Silver (Dublin, Belfast 2026) 80 45 25 14
FIP Bronze (Limerick 2025) 40 22 14 8

Why it matters: FIP points are the only way to get a world ranking. Even a few points from a home Bronze or Silver event can help with entry into bigger FIP tournaments abroad. To enter, you need an FIP player registration (IPIN) and must meet each event's entry requirements, which can change close to the event.

Learn more:

3. The Irish Padel Tour (CUPRA IPT): the national ranking circuit

Level: National. The main tournament circuit in Ireland.
Who it is for: Anyone who wants an Irish ranking, from Open level down to Intermediate and Beginner categories.
Ranking: Points go to the PFI national ranking.

The Irish Padel Tour is run by the Padel Federation of Ireland and travels all over the island, North and South, with stops in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Belfast and Derry. There are men's, women's, mixed and seniors draws, and players can compete for national ranking or in social categories. Full disclosure: LovePadel is a proud sponsor of the Irish Padel Tour.

The season has three types of event:

  • P1 (Challengers): around ten regular tournaments a year.
  • Majors: four bigger events, at Padel 54, Padel Tennis Ireland, Padel Limerick and Bushy Park.
  • Master Final: the season finale with the most points and prizes. In 2026 it takes place on 28 and 29 November (venue to be confirmed).

IPT ranking points table

Round reached P1 (Challenger) Major Master Final
Winner 1000 1500 2000
Runner up 800 1200 1500
Semi final 600 1000 1200
Quarter final 400 800 1000
Round of 16 200 600 800
Round of 32 100 400 600
Round of 64 50 200 400

The tour uses a point defence format: points you earned at an event are replaced by your result at the next edition, so you have to keep performing to hold your spot. Rankings are updated once results and categories are confirmed. Use the same PFI licence and profile details at every event so your points land on the right record.

Next up (at the time of writing): CUPRA IPT P1 at The Hive Padel, Cork, 7 and 8 November 2026, then the Master Final on 28 and 29 November 2026.

Learn more:

4. The Padel League of Ireland: national inter-club competition

Level: National team competition between clubs.
Who it is for: Club players of all standards who want to play for their club in a structured league.
Ranking: Team standings, leading to the All-Ireland title.

The Padel League of Ireland (PLI) is the PFI's club league, played in four provincial leagues: Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht. Each province can have up to three divisions, with Division 1 at the top. In its first season it drew more than 100 teams and 1,000 players.

  • Teams: 8 to 10 registered players per team, with 6 playing in each fixture and a captain who manages lineups and results.
  • Fixtures: three doubles matches, played at the same time where possible. Court 1 is worth 5 points, Court 2 is worth 4 and Court 3 is worth 3. The team with the higher total wins.
  • Season: groups of four teams, so every team gets at least three fixtures. Group winners go to provincial play offs, and the best teams qualify for the All-Ireland Finals, where the Division 1 winner is crowned Padel League of Ireland Champion.
  • Cost: €20 per player registration through the PFI Padel Portal (plus court fees at your club). Every player needs a PFI licence number.

The inaugural All-Ireland Padel Championships, the PLI finals, take place on 28 and 29 November 2026 at West Wood Club Leopardstown. Clubs register their interest each spring, so ask your club now about next season.

Learn more: Padel League of Ireland (PFI)

5. Regional leagues: Dublin Padel League and Ireland Padel Series (Cork)

Level: Regional team leagues.
Who it is for: Club players who want regular, local, competitive matches through the season.
Ranking: League tables and internal rankings (not national ranking points).

Dublin Padel League

The Dublin Padel League (DPL) is an inter-club team league for the greater Dublin area. Its autumn 2026 season runs until 20 December 2026, with 84 teams and more than 580 registered players at the time of writing. Member clubs include Bective Tennis & Padel, Druid Padel Sportsco, Elm Park, Fitzwilliam LTC, Malahide LTCC, Portmarnock Padel Club, Sutton LTC and Naas LTC. Alongside the division tables, the DPL runs an ELO style ranking by class, so you can follow individual progress too.

Learn more: dublin-padel-league.ie (see the member clubs)

Ireland Padel Series (Cork)

The Ireland Padel Series (IPS) is the amateur team padel league in Cork. Teams have 4 to 6 players and play across five divisions. The 2026/27 group stage runs from September 2026 to January 2027, followed by a Final Four.

Learn more: irelandpadelseries.com

6. Club championships

Level: Internal club competition.
Who it is for: Members of a club, usually split into grades or levels.
Ranking: Club titles and bragging rights.

Most clubs with padel courts now run an annual club championship, often with men's, women's and mixed doubles and graded draws so that everyone plays people of a similar level. It is the best first step into knockout tournament padel: familiar courts, familiar faces and real pressure. Check your club noticeboard, newsletter or booking app.

Learn more: ask your club, or find clubs near you in our guide to padel clubs in Ireland on Playtomic. Clubs can also list events through the PFI's community events page.

7. Club round robins, Americanos and Mexicanos

Level: Internal, social competition.
Who it is for: Everyone, including beginners.
Ranking: None, although app based levels may move.

Round robins, Americanos (you change partner every round) and Mexicanos (pairings based on the live scores) are the backbone of club padel. They are short, sociable and a great way to meet players at your level before you start entering tournaments. Most Irish clubs publish them on their booking app, usually Playtomic or Matchi.

Learn more: your club's booking app, or our list of Irish padel clubs on Playtomic.

8. Social competition across clubs: the Playmate Ladder

Level: Social, cross-club challenge ladder.
Who it is for: Pairs who want regular competitive matches against new opponents, outside their own club.
Ranking: Your team's position on the ladder.

The Playmate Ladder runs inside the free Playmate app. Ireland has published ladders in Dublin (a general ladder and a women's ladder), Belfast, Galway and Waterford. You sign up as a pair. Beat a ranked team and you take their place; ranked teams can challenge anyone up to 10 places above them. Challenges are organised in level based WhatsApp groups (1.0 to 2.5, 2.5 to 3.5, and 3.5+). The team at number 1 at the end of each month is crowned Monthly Ladder Champion and wins a padel gear prize. Teams must play regularly to keep their rank.

Learn more: Playmate Ladder rules

Also worth knowing: the Irish Padel Association

The Irish Padel Association (IPA) fields the Irish team for two friendly international events:

  • Six Nations Masters Padel Tournament: a nations event for players aged 45 and over, founded in 2018 (as the Four Nations, at Casa Padel in Paris) by IPA president Barry Coffey, who is also its tournament director. Each nation fields three pairs, no player can be under 45 and each pair's combined age must be over 100. Nations meet in three-match ties. The event moves around Europe, with recent editions including Cologne, and has featured England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, France and Monaco.
  • Legends Cup Inter Nations Tournament: a second friendly international team competition, where an IPA squad represents Ireland against other nations.

These friendly internationals are separate from the official FIP competitions that the Padel Federation of Ireland selects for. They are a great option if you are an experienced player who wants to wear the green jersey in a friendly but competitive international setting.

Learn more: irishpadel.ie and the Irish Padel Association on Facebook

Which level should you start at?

  • New to padel: start with club round robins and Americanos, then join the Playmate Ladder for competitive matches outside your club.
  • Regular club player: enter your club championships and put your name forward for your club's Dublin Padel League, Ireland Padel Series or Padel League of Ireland team.
  • Chasing a ranking: get your PFI licence and enter the Irish Padel Tour. Intermediate and Beginner categories mean you do not need to be an Open player to start.
  • Top Irish players: target IPT Majors and the Master Final, enter FIP events in Ireland for world ranking points, and declare interest when national team selection opens.

Whatever level you play at, the right racket makes a difference. Browse our padel rackets, and see you on court.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a padel ranking in Ireland?

Register with the Padel Federation of Ireland and play ranked events on the Irish Padel Tour. Points are awarded by round reached: up to 1,000 for a P1 Challenger, 1,500 for a Major and 2,000 for the Master Final.

What is the difference between FIP points and IPT points?

FIP points come from international CUPRA FIP Tour events (including FIP events held in Ireland) and count towards the FIP world ranking. IPT points come from the Irish Padel Tour and count towards the Irish national ranking run by the Padel Federation of Ireland.

Have there been FIP padel tournaments in Ireland?

Yes. Limerick hosted the first Padel Irish Open (FIP Bronze) in November 2025. In July 2026, Moira near Belfast hosted the FIP Silver R3 Bullpadel Cup NI Open and Dublin hosted the FIP Silver Hiscox Padel Irish Open.

How do I play for the Ireland padel team?

You must be eligible to represent Ireland and hold an active PFI licence. When the Padel Federation of Ireland opens a selection cycle, declare your interest, attend trials if required, and you may be named in the National Squad, from which the event team is selected about eight weeks before the competition.

Can over 45s play padel for Ireland?

Yes. The Irish Padel Association fields Irish teams for two friendly internationals: the Six Nations Masters Padel Tournament (all players 45 or over) and the Legends Cup Inter Nations Tournament. The Padel Federation of Ireland also selects Senior age band teams for official FIP events.

Is there a national padel league for clubs in Ireland?

Yes, the Padel League of Ireland. Clubs enter teams in provincial leagues (Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht), and the best teams qualify for the All-Ireland Padel Championships. The 2026 finals are on 28 and 29 November at West Wood Club Leopardstown.

Can veteran players represent Ireland at padel?

Yes. As well as the PFI's senior national team, the Irish Padel Association sends Irish teams abroad to the Six Nations Masters Padel Tournament (players aged 45 and over) and the Legends Cup Inter Nations Tournament.

Where can beginners play competitive padel in Ireland?

Start with club round robins and Americanos, then try the Playmate Ladder in Dublin, Belfast, Galway or Waterford. The Irish Padel Tour also offers Beginner and Intermediate categories.

 

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