Thomond objection ‘will go no further’
Fears of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála by the current sole objector — taxi operator Gerard Kiely — eased yesterday.
His brother, Fine Gael councillor Kevin Kiely, said Gerard Kiely would not take the matter any further.
“You can take it his objection will go no further. He is in the US at the moment,” he said.
Planning permission was granted by the council, which also passed the necessary vote to rezone an area near the ground, from housing to commercial use.
Knockalisheen Road, subject of the rezoning, has 16 terraced houses, which were acquired by the IRFU — including 13 owner occupied homes bought for a sum believed to be in the region of €4 million.
The other three houses are being bought from the council, but three council tenants are opposing plans to move them to alternative houses, and the council has served eviction notices.
The rugby authorities are anxious to have builders on site as soon as possible, so that the new Thomond Park — with a capacity of up to 29,000 — will be available for the 2007/08 Heineken European Cup series.
Mr Kiely, who lives at 2 Parkview, Hassett’s Cross, stated in his objection that the new structures would severely restrict light in his apartment.
His objection added: “I work as a taxi driver, mainly at night, [and] with the new ground being even nearer my apartment, I feel the new noise levels will be a major factor. I have outside parking but, on match days, my parking bay has constantly been taken by visitors to Thomond Park. With the new ground capacity, I believe this will make matters even worse.”
Yesterday’s planing application was lodged by Murray O’Laoire Architects, Merriman House, Lock Quay, Limerick.
The design provides for two new stands which will seat 7,643 and 9,013 respectively.
Accommodation within the stand will include, corporate boxes, dressing rooms, bars, a museum, retail areas, an hospitality function room, a kitchen area and ancillary facilities.
At a special planning meeting of the city council, a number of members called on the GAA to make the Gaelic Grounds available for Heineken Cup games if the re-development if Thomond Park was not completed for the 2007 /08 season.
One of the councillors, ex-rugby international Gerry McLoughlin who played for Munster in the 1978 win over the All-Blacks, said the development of the new Thomond Park was a historic day for Limerick.
He also referred to the huge commercial benefit, accruing from the new venue, with Munster games being worth an estimated €5m per match to the city.
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