The Convention Center Dublin (CCD) is located on Dublin's docks and opened in September 2010. The convention center overlooks the River Liffey, from Spencer Pier. It was designed by the American-Irish architect Kevin Roche. The CCD was nominated for the Irish Engineers of Excellence Awards in the category of best engineering project of the Year 2010.[1]​.

In 1995, the then Irish government planned to build a National Convention Centre, but the plan was abandoned. Tourism Minister Enda Kenny had announced that the location of the proposed convention center would be in the Ballsbridge neighborhood, but the project never moved forward.

In November 1997, with the new Fianna Fáil-led government elected, a new competition to build the convention center was launched by tourism minister James McDaid, with seven consortia admitted to the project. The public works office consulted on proposals to build the convention center on Infirmary Road next to Phoenix Park. One participant was the Ogden/Sonas group led by Robert White, whose plans for a casino in nearby Phoenix Park had been abandoned by the previous administration; The Anna Livia consortium, made up of Earlsfort Group, Bennett Construction and Kilsarin Concrete, also participated in the competition, proposing a complex conference center in Dublin Port across the street from the O2.[2]​.

Treasury Holdings, headed by Johnny Ronan and Barrett Richard, the final winners of the competition, reached an agreement with CIE to locate their project at Spencer's Dock. Harry Crosbie was also part of the consortium. His plan included ideas for two 250-room hotels, at least one of which was subsequently never built. A hotel had been planned for the rear of the Convention Center, but this was changed to protect the area.[3]​.

The European Union agreed to provide a maximum subsidy of £25 million for the project although this was conditional on the project being completed by the year 2000. The total cost of the project at that time was estimated between £35 million and £45 million, excluding the acquisition of the land, according to the tender document. The successful bidders would also have more than 250,000 pounds on hand for the expenses incurred.