Councillors sign off on Dalymount Park redvelopment

Dublin City Council members have agreed to fund the redevelopment of Dalymount Park.

At this month’s meeting of Dublin City Council, the meeting heard that Dublin City Council will need to borrow €34 million to fund the ambitious redevelopment of the ground.

It is anticipated that Bohemians will vacate the ground at the end of the 2026 season, and the new stadium will be ready for the start of the 2029 season.

The new round of funding was discussed at the meeting, with councillors being told that €25 million of the funding will come directly from the government, with the council borrowing €34 million to fund the project (funding from UEFA and levies will make up the rest of the cost).

The council ponying up €34 million for the project will be offset by the council taking a cut of matchday and non-matchday revenue, along with the annual rental income that the club already pays to the council.

Plans to turn the stadium into a concert venue with a 10,000 capacity have also been examined, which would increase potential revenue earnings.

Dalymount Park played host to concerts in the past – most notably, Bob Marley played his only-ever Irish gig at the venue in 1980 – and turning the stadium into a multi-use, municipal stadium is of great appeal to councillors.

Despite the rising costs, council members agreed to fund the project.

Green councillor Feljin Jose said the project is “great for the local community; it’s not just a stadium, it’s a community hub for Phibsborough.”

The Cabra-Glasnevin councillor noted that the redevelopment includes community facilities, which he says are “sorely lacking.”

“Whenever I meet a local community group, they ask me if there is a space to meet in the local area because there are absolutely none. Bohs have done a great job of hosting those facilities, but it shouldn’t be up to them,” and said the council should be providing more services of that ilk to local residents.

Fellow Cabra-Glasnevin councillor Cieran Perry said, “I’m a Bohs fan, but first and foremost I’m a local rep. It’s really important that this could regenerate the fantastic village of Phibsborough.”

The independent councillor said it was a “missed opportunity” that council reps didn’t have any input into the design and said it was a “disgrace” that the FAI are not part of the funding process.

Sinn Féin councillor Séamas McGrattan welcomed the commitment of Dublin City Council over the years, noting that the council took ownership of the stadium a decade ago and has stuck by it.

The Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said, “it’s been 10 years since we bought Dalymount and there’s been many hurdles and challenges, but the council has worked through them all.”

McGrattan said, “this is much more than a sporting venue, this is a huge opportunity for the wider community.”

Fine Gael councillor Colm O’Rourke said there are concerns about delays and asked the council to assuage the fears.

“This project started because of the momentum by fans, the local community and the club. I don’t want to see misleading news articles having an impact on the momentum; we need to get the project over the line,” the Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said.

O’Rourke’s party colleague, Gayle Ralph, said the redevelopment is “badly needed.”

Independent councillor John Lyons said the project had “huge potential” to revitalise the area.

The Artane-Whitehall councillor said that the community space element of the stadium is just as, if not more important, than the stadium element.

Lyons noted that the recent purchase of Phibsborough Shopping Centre should be tied in to the redevelopment of Dalymount Park, and give the council more bang for its buck.

“It would be foolish not to be engaging with them,” he noted.

North Inner City independent Christy Burke said he welcomed the development, but said “I’d like to see the FAI put their hands in their pockets.”

He noted that the FAI looks to benefit from a redeveloped Dalymount Park, and they should be financially contributing to the project.

Fianna Fáil councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor John Stephens said, “Dalymount Park is a huge motivation to improve Phibsborough.”

“When we are dividing out funds for sports, it’s important that all sports are divided out, but Dalymount is important to Phibsbourough.”

Lord Mayor Ray McAdam praised that politicians from across the political spectrum – both at a national and local level – were so keen to support the project.

The Fine Gael councillor said “everyone can take some of the credit”.

The Lord Mayor said, “we owe it to Bohs, to the League Of Ireland, to the people of Phibsborough and the Northside so we can make Dalymount a living stadium again. It can be a catalyst for the further redevelopment of Phibsborough.”

At the meeting, the possibility of the stadium being upgraded to potentially host bigger UEFA club competition matches was discussed, as at present, Dalymount Park does not meet UEFA standards.

Indeed, as a result of Shamrock Rovers’ FAI Cup final victory on November 10, which took place after the meeting on November 3, Bohemians have qualified for European football next season, with Bohs qualifying for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

Fellow Northsiders Shelbourne will enter the tournament in the second qualifying round.

However, should Bohemians progress past the first round, it would need to find a UEFA Category 4 stadium, and Dalymount, as it stands and once the project is completed, is only a Category 3, as noted by People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy.

Reddy and Ralph noted that if the council is spending that much money on the stadium, surely it could spring for a stadium that meets higher UEFA specifications and allow it to host bigger European matches, which in turn would produce more financial revenue.

Dublin City Council boss Richard Shakespeare said that “a whole new level of financial pain” would be required to make Dalymount fit for regular European football, with the sub-text that Bohemians would need to be qualifying or competing regularly for European football.

Football economists and historians note that in the past, clubs leveraging future financial success on continued success is a massive gamble, with the most notable example being Leeds United in the early 2000s, suffering financial collapse after major loans were taken out, with revenue projections contingent on continued on-field success.

Shakespeare said, “we would hope to be on site this time next year,” and was relatively confident that the project could be brought in on time and on budget.

“The €63.7 million figure represents a worst-case scenario, but we are confident the project can be delivered within budget,” he told the meeting

“Dalymount Park is central to our vision of integrating sport, community, and urban regeneration.

In a statement, the club said it welcomed the funding from the councillors.

“This funding, combined with the LSSIF funding provided in 2024, will allow for the historic stadium to be fully redeveloped and serve the people of Dublin and beyond long into the future.”

“Bohemians FC contributes to Irish society through sports, community engagement, significant economic impact both locally and further afield, and through progressive social policies – a redeveloped Dalymount Park will ensure we can continue to do so and build upon it.”

Under the new plans, Dalymount Park will see its capacity increase to roughly 8,034 seats, add new stands on the east and west sides of the stadium and create standing for nearly 1800 people. 

In addition to the work on the stadium, a new public throughfare that connects North Circular Road and Connaught Street are part of the plans, which various restaurants and a new public plaza included in the plans.

A two-storey community facility and community gym are also included in the designs, with the aim of benefiting local residents. 

The first phase of enabling works, which includes the demolition of the Connaught Street Stand, has already been completed.