Lansdowne Road to be revamped
2006-08-01 11:02
Dublin - Town planners have given
Ireland's Lansdowne Road, home of Irish rugby and soccer, the
green light for a planned 365 million euro facelift, paving the way for work to start on its revamp as an
all-seater venue.
"The Irish Rugby Football Union warmly welcomes the
notification from Dublin City Council of their decision to
grant planning for the re-development of Lansdowne Road, while
respecting that there remains some way to go in the process,"
IRFU President Peter Boyle said of Monday's decision.
"The importance of this project for the future well being
of the whole of Irish rugby can not be overstated."
Developers applied in January for permission to redevelop
Lansdowne Road, an ageing stadium in the heart of an upmarket
Dublin residential district, as a 50 000-all-seater stadium.
Work on the project is expected to start in 2007 and
scheduled for completion by July 2009.
Ireland's national rugby and soccer teams will play their
matches at the Gaelic Athletics Association's showcase venue,
Croke Park, while work is being carried out at Lansdowne Road.