Jarlath Burns vows to do all he can for Semple Stadium

The GAA president wants to see the sense of prestige restored to the Thurles venue

Artist, Aidan Harte and Uachtaran of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Jarlath Burns in front of the bronze statue, entitled ÔAr gCluichi FeinÕ (Our Own Games), by artist Aidan Harte, created outside Semple Stadium to recognise the cultural importance of Gaelic games and to commemorate Tipperary as the birthplace of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Pic: Dylan Vaughan

GAA president Jarlath Burns has pledged he will “do everything he can” in his final six months in office to make FBD Semple Stadium the venue “it should be and can be”.

With general upkeep of the stadium estimated to cost €10 million, Burns wants to see the sense of prestige restored to the Thurles venue, which had been due for an upgrade prior to the pandemic.

Electrical and plumbing work has to take place and the seats in the Kinane Stand are also expected to be replaced.

In February, the GAA presented a commissioned report to the Tipperary County Council that showed the hosting of the 2024 Munster senior hurling final was worth €3.2m to Thurles and €4.5m to the county.

In his address at the unveiling of a new statue at the stadium entitled “Ár gCluichí Féin”, which was funded by the county council, Burns promised he will strive to see the venue updated.

“The future of Semple Stadium lies in myself and others to ensure that in the next 10 years it gets the funding to make the people who walk past this statue proud to be in this stadium and proud to see it as a part of the future of the GAA.

“I make that pledge to you today: in the final few months I have as Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael I will do everything I can to honour this stadium and to make it the stadium that it should be and can be and was whenever it was built by the visionaries like Tom Semple.” 

Speaking last month, Tipperary GAA said early refurbishment work was to begin on the venue later this year. The ownership model of the stadium could also change.

In an interview with Tipp FM’s 'Across The Line', Burns confirmed the GAA were assessing funding streams to meet the upgrade. “The GAA only has €12m every year for infrastructure – we give €5m for clubs and €7m to counties.

“If you look at all the infrastructural projects going on around the country all of this is coming because of a) demographic change and b) the number of people who want to play our games and c) when people go to a game now they want to watch it in comfort because Croke Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh sets the standard.

“There are plenty of other stadiums around the country that set a high standard and we want Semple Stadium to meet that level as well because this is where it all began.”