Gabija Gataveckaite
THE capacity at Tallaght Stadium could be increased to 10,000 with the addition of a fourth stand.
There are also plans to remodel the rear of the West stand, adding another floor above the Glenmalure suite.
The overall cost is estimated to be €4.7 million.
“A feasibility report on a potential development of Tallaght Stadium was presented to the members of South Dublin County Council at their meeting on December 10,” a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council (SDCC) said.
“The report outlined the opportunity to provide a new stand at the North of the stadium and remodel the existing West Stand to bring the Stadium capacity to 10,000.
“The indicative costs are estimated at €4.7 million. The members noted the report and approved the progression of the report to Part 8 proposals.”
New plans for the stadium were presented to South Dublin County Council last week. The stadium is currently at a capacity of 8,000 following recent refurbishments to its South stand.
The stadium is located beside Sean Walsh Park, which, following a vote last week, will see the construction of a total of 81 housing units for elderly people.
John Kiberd, a Tallaght Litter Mugs volunteer, spearheaded a campaign against the proposed development.
Mr Kiberd claimed that further expansions to the stadium will turn it into a musical venue that would cause cause problems for elderly residents.
Mr Kiberd explained that in the future, the elderly residents will be disturbed by the stadium’s busy events, as the additional fourth stand will bring its capacity to 10,000 people.
“Down the road, it’ll be an issue,” he said. “Now the stadium just has a soccer match every two weeks, but they’re not building all of that extra capacity space to leave it idle.
“The elderly residents who will move into the apartments at Sean Walsh Park and the people who will grow old beside the stadium won’t find peace with the stadium so close by.”
Tallaght Stadium opened in 2009 and a third stadium was added just in the past year. It is home to the Shamrock Rovers, ‘Ireland’s most successful football club’, according to the Tallaght Stadium website.
The recent completion of its 2,195 seater South stand means the Hoops will play to an 8,000 capacity stadium next season.