IRFU unveil 250m Lansdowne plan

IRFU bosses yesterday unveiled a 250m plan to demolish Lansdowne Road and rebuild it as a national stadium to accommodating rugby and soccer.

The new 50,000 seater stadium would be 550m less than the Government’s plan for the Bertie Bowl at Abbotstown, which was estimated at 800m IRFU chief executive Philip Browne and IRFU representatives met sports minister John O’Donoghue yesterday to unveil their blueprint for the new construction.

The IRFU plan includes recommendations to allow for all Irish international soccer matches to be held in the revamped stadium A new Lansdowne Road stadium would run from north to south as it does at the moment, but the entire structure would have to be demolished and the ground rebuilt.

The east and west stands would go but both Lansdowne and Wanderers rugby clubs, who are co-tenants, would still be accommodated on the oldest international ground in the world.

There should be no major planning problems with the new blueprint, said an IRFU spokesperson.

“It would be a bowl-shaped stadium, based on the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield, England,” the spokesperson said.

“The stands would be rebuilt and those on the north and south sides of the ground would be single tier structures, thereby not causing any nuisance to local residents.

“It would be a very environmentally-friendly stadium and should have no adverse affect on neighbours,” said the spokesperson.

The GAA also view the proposed development in a very positive light.

“It has been well signalled for quite some time. As recently as this week the IRFU chief executive Phillip Browne said that it was the preferred option,” a GAA spokesperson said last night.

We will wish them every success and hope that they get the backing for it,”