New Musgrave Park stand gets €600,000 Government allocation

THE Government has awarded the Munster Branch €600,000 towards the construction of a state-of-the-art multi-purpose stand at Musgrave Park in Cork.

The Leinster Branch will receive €200,000 for use on the development of their Donnybrook grounds in Dublin. The grants are part of a €10.2m distribution under the 2004 Sports Capital Programme and will help modernise two of Ireland’s premier rugby stadia.

The Musgrave Park stand, which will cost an estimated €6.5m, will have a seated capacity of 6,500 and will incorporate dressing rooms, gymnasium and administration offices.

The €200,000 given to the Leinster Branch will be used towards a sand-based playing surface, irrigation system and floodlights for the extensively used ‘back’ pitch at Donnybrook. Last year, the Leinster Branch received €500,000 which was used to develop the changing facilities at the ground.