Thomond set for major expansion

The hallowed rugby ground - where Munster recorded an historic win over the All-Blacks in 1978 - is set to get a multi-million euro facelift.

Details were announced today of a major fundraising drive to increase the capacity at Thomond Park in Limerick from 12,000 fans to more than 26,000.

As part of the €30m expansion, Musgrave Park in Cork will also be refurbished and additional training facilities will be accquired for both professional and underage rugby in Munster.

Last week, Munster fans were outraged when it was announced that future knock-out matches in the popular Heineken European Cup would be played at Lansdowne Road.

The proposed new increased capacity would open up Thomond Park for major matches in line with European Rugby Cup policy.

Funding for the ambitious development programme will be split between private investors, the IRFU and the National Lottery.

The fundraising drive is also expected to take advantage of changes in finance legislation which allows sporting bodies to write off capital grants against tax liabilities.

The president of the Munster Branch of the IRFU, Niall O'Driscoll, said today that Munster's facilities were simply not up to scratch compared to those of other big European clubs.

"Our dressing room facilities are not adequate - our weights rooms and gymnasiums are just not at the races at the moment - and we've got to stand up and do something about it," he said.

Thomond Park secured its place in Irish sporting folklore following Munster's famous win over the All-Blacks in 1978. A play entitled "Alone It Stands" has been written about the historic day.