Semple Stadium - Citizendia

Semple Stadium Staid Semple
Location
Area:	Thurles
County:	Co Tipperary
Country:	Ireland
Facility Statistics
Broke Ground:	1910
Opened:	1910
Renovated:	1981
Surface:	Grass
Owner:	Tipperary GAA
Capacity:	55,000

Semple Stadium, located in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, is the home of hurling for Tipperary and for the larger Munster area. Thurles (pronounced /θɜɹlɛs/ or locally /tɜrləs/ Dúrlas Éile is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the River Suir, with a County Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Árann is a County in Ireland situated in the Province of Munster. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include For more details of Tipperary GAA see Tipperary Senior Club Football Championship, Tipperary Senior Club Hurling Championship, Tipperary Senior Club Hurling Thurles (pronounced /θɜɹlɛs/ or locally /tɜrləs/ Dúrlas Éile is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the River Suir, with a County Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Árann is a County in Ireland situated in the Province of Munster. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Hurling (in Irish, iománaíocht or iomáint) is an outdoor team Sport of ancient Gaelic origin administered by the Gaelic For more details of Tipperary GAA see Tipperary Senior Club Football Championship, Tipperary Senior Club Hurling Championship, Tipperary Senior Club Hurling Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland. It is the second largest stadium in Ireland with a capacity of 53,500. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Over the decades since 1926, it has established itself as the 'Mecca' for hurling followers, hosting the Munster Hurling Final on many memorable occasions.

History

The grounds on which Semple Stadium is built were formerly known as Thurles Sportsfield. The site was offered for sale in 1910 at the wish of Canon M. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting K. Ryan and was purchased by local gaelic games enthusiasts for £900. To meet the cost of the purchase, an issue of shares was subscribed by the townspeople. The grounds remained in the hands of the shareholders until 1956 when they were transferred to the Gaelic Athletic Association. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA) ( Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael /'kʊmˠən̪ˠ 'l̪ˠuh

In 1934 in anticipation of the All-Ireland Hurling Final being held in the grounds in commemoration of the golden jubilee of the association, extensive improvements were made to bring the field requirements up to the demands which a crowd of up to 60,000 would make. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in Ireland. The embankments around the field were raised and extended and the stand accommodation was also extended. However, the jubilee final was held in Croke Park and it was another 50 years before the Stadium would host the long-awaited All-Ireland final as a showpiece to mark the centenary.

In 1968, further developments took place when the Dr Kinane Stand was completed and opened. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1971 the stadium was named after Tom Semple, famed captain of the Thurles "Blues". Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Tom Semple (1879-1943 was a famous Irish sportsperson He played Hurling with his local club Thurles and with the Tipperary senior inter-county He won All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1900, 1906 and 1908. The GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in Ireland. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The "Ardan O Riain" opposite the Kinane Stand and the terracing at the town end of the field was completed in 1981 at a cost of £500,000. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 This development and the terracing at the Killinan end of the field were part of a major improvement scheme for the celebration of the centenary All-Ireland Hurling Final between Cork and Offaly in 1984. The GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in Ireland. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast County Offaly (Contae Uíbh Fhailí is a County in Leinster, Ireland, bordered by seven other counties Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar)

Recently, an architectural consultancy has been appointed to lead a design team, tasked with preparing a Masterplan for the redevelopment of Semple Stadium. Currently the stadium has a capacity of 53,500, of which 36,000 are seated, but with limited facilities for additional use by spectators.

The proposal for the Stadium is to raise its capacity to close to 57,000, as well as providing a wide range of modern facilities such as corporate space concessions, dining and changing areas within both main stands. Proposals will also be made for upgrading the present standing terraces and provide for the installation of a modern floodlighting facility.

History

See also