Lansdowne Road given perfect send-off ahead of wrecking ball

As the Irish team made their way to the Havelock Square end of Lansdowne Road they started stripping. First it was Gordon D'Arcy's shirt that was thrown into the crowd. Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll's followed.

By the end of the team's lap of honour to bid farewell to Lansdowne Road, Denis Hickie, John Hayes and Peter Stringer had thrown shirts, socks and boots to the cheering fans, the song Time To Say Goodbye blasting out across the stands.

By the side of the pitch wind machines threw up millions of shards of green foil. It was as if a swarm of locusts had just swept across the terraces as the fans waved and cheered the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Home to the game since 1878, yesterday was Lansdowne Road's last international hurrah.

It was an afternoon that triggered fond memories, a giant screen at the back of the terrace feeding in old footage of bygone days and previous Irish triumphs. There was grainy black and white footage of the days when the fans stood dozens deep at the side of the pitch and patted try scorers on the back after they crossed the line.

But if there were misty eyes there was also an air of expectation of a new stadium to house a team that yesterday beat the Pacific Islands 61-17 and which also beat South Africa and Australia recently.

There are still games to be played at the old ground - the FAI Cup final next Sunday, and Leinster against Ulster in a Magners League rugby match on December 31st.

Dublin City Council decided during the summer to grant planning permission for a new stadium, but there have been more than 30 objections and An Bord Pleanála is due to begin an oral hearing on December 11th.

The estimated cost of the new stadium is €365 million, of which the Irish Rugby Football Union is contributing approximately €100 million, the Government €191 million and the Football Association of Ireland almost €70 million.

There is a 27-month building programme, on which basis Ireland's next rugby international match at Lansdowne Road will not be before the autumn of 2009.