€11m investment targeted for Semple Stadium upgrades

Fans watch the minor game prior to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final clash between Kilkenny and Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

An investment of up to €11 million is being targeted to bring Semple Stadium up to modern standards, with hopes that the work can be completed over the next three to four years.

Ger Ryan, chairperson of the stadium's management committee, outlined the proposed redevelopment, which includes structural repairs, improved seating, pitch irrigation and better facilities for wheelchair users.

“Concrete repairs in the stands and terraces, some boundary wall improvements, we need to treat roof steelwork in both stands, we need to upgrade aspects of the press box and ensure that is safe in the long term and better protected from weather as it is at present," Ryan is quoted saying by TippFM Sport.

“Mechanical and electrical services, they need upgrading again right now.

“We've seen a change in use in terms of the time of the year that the stadium is used so that requires additional pitch irrigation systems and maybe an upgrade to the pitch itself.

“We also need some decorating and painting around the place and also we want to improve the seating.

“Most importantly then we need a proper facility for wheelchair users, at present they sit in front of Ardán O'Riain which leaves them very much exposed to the weather and we really want to oblige people like that better coming to games than being exposed to the weather, it is just simply not suitable.”

Ryan believes the investment would secure the future of the Thurles venue for many years.

“We estimate it is in the order maybe of €10-€11 million but we would be hoping that if we got to spend that, that we would have a stadium that would be viable for another 15-20 years," he said.

“So that would be the ambition of the governing body and the management committee, to deliver that sort of improvement over the next 3-4 years or so.”