Semple Stadium gets €1 million to kick-start development plan

Sports Grants: A €1-million grant to modernise Semple Stadium in Thurles was part of €21.2 million in Government funding announced by the Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, yesterday.

The grants are spread across 78 projects and bring the total funding under this year's sports capital programme to €75 million.

"I am particularly delighted to give a grant of €1 million for the development of Semple Stadium, both because I feel that hurling is a sport that really needs support at this time and also because Thurles is one of the GAA's priority venues for development," said O'Donoghue.

GAA President Nickey Brennan, present at the announcement alongside IRFU chief executive Philip Browne and FAI chief executive John Delaney, praised the minister and his office for providing the initial injection to begin a €20-million project.

"We are committed that Thurles needs a big upgrade at this stage in terms of facilities," said Brennan.

"Some work has been done, but we want to make it the second official GAA stadium in the country. This money and the many millions we have committed to it as well will make this happen. They improved the old stand some years ago, but really the whole facilities in terms of toilet facilities, general seating, corporate facilities, even food outlets - the whole thing just needs a general upgrade.

"I think it's recognised that Thurles is behind other grounds at this stage so we need to bring it up to scratch. I think they will be starting pretty quickly on that."

Brennan admitted redevelopment of most county grounds is required over the next 10 years, as the excellent facilities in Croke Park have raised the expectations of those attending GAA games.

"The scale that is in Croke Park would be impossible to replicate everywhere, but the principal is very much what we want to do. The days of just turning up and standing under the rain are over."

The Government provided UCD with €1.25 million to upgrade the Belfield Bowl for the college's rugby and soccer clubs.

The RDS received 1 million to develop the show-jumping arena into what will become the main venue for Leinster rugby and, potentially, a national league soccer team.

The plans include resurfacing the pitch and installing floodlights and 9,189 covered seats that will raise the capacity to 15,200.

Leinster rugby received €80,000 to install floodlights on the back pitch at Donnybrook to cater for schools rugby. In total, the rugby union received €2.18 million yesterday.

National Grants

Athletics Ireland - €250,000. Basketball Ireland (National Arena) - €400,000. Clontarf Cricket Club - 175,000. Cycling Ireland - 115,000. Cycling Ireland Mountainbike Commission - €80,000. Football Association of Ireland - 250,000. Irish Amateur Boxing Association (National Stadium) - 350,000. Irish Amateur Fencing Federation - 20,000. Irish Canoe Union (Liffey Centre) - 165,000. Irish Deaf Sports Association - 15,000. Irish Parachute Club - 100,000. Irish Sailing Association - €180,000. Irish Underwater Council - 20,000. Morton Stadium Management Committee - €7,000. National Coaching & Training Centre - 60,000. North County Cricket Club Ltd - 240,000. Onakai - 10,000. Punchestown Three-Day Event Ltd - €40,000. Swim Ireland - 37,800. Tennis Ireland (National Centre) - €750,000.

Regional Grants

Athlone Town Stadium Ltd - €600,000. AUL Complex - 70,000. Bray Wanderers - 385,000. Cobh Ramblers FC - 350,000. Cork Constitution Football Club - 400,000. Cork Institute of Technology - €400,000. County Carlow Rugby Football Club - 50,000. Cumann Camogaíochta Chontae Chorcaí - €175,000. Donegal Junior League - 30,000. Garryowen Football Club - 150,000. Inishowen Football League - 150,000. Kerry District League - €100,000. Kildare & District Schoolboys League - 350,000. Laois GAA (O'Moore Park) - 250,000. Leinster Rugby - 80,000. Longford Town Football Club Ltd - €25,000. Mayfield United AFC/FAI - 70,000. Mayo Association Football League - 300,000. Meath and District League - €175,000. Offaly GAA County Board - 400,000. Páirc Mac Diarmada - 250,000. Pearse Stadium - 100,000. Royal Dublin Society - 1,000,000. Semple Stadium - 1,000,000. Shannon Rugby Football Club - €275,000. South Dublin Football League - 550,000. St Mary's College RFC - 225,000. Tipperary County Camogie Board - €20,000. UCD Sports Department (Belfield Bowl) - 1,250,000. Waterford & District Association Football League - 70,000.