Semple Stadium the home of hurling is to undergo renovations ahead of GAA centenary celebrations.
The Gaelic Athletic Association was founded at Hayes's Commercial Hotel in Thurles on 1 November 1884. As part of the celebrations of 100 years of the organisation in 1984, the GAA plans to carry out major renovations on Semple Stadium in Thurles. It is estimated that the renovations to the stadium known as the home of hurling will cost half a million pounds. Raising finance for the redevelopment has begun.
A major part of the fundraising will be the selling of 2,500 ten year tickets at a cost of a hundred pounds each.
The development will increase the stadium capacity to 55,000 and involves adding a new stand on the northern bank which will seat 11,000. In total, the new stadium will seat twenty seven thousand.
A galaxy of All Ireland hurling winners attended the ceremony to announce the launch of the plans for Semple Stadium. Those in attendance included Christy Ring, Jimmy Doyle and Eddie Keher. John Doyle outlined the attraction that Semple Stadium has for hurlers.
Thurles Stadium is the ambition of every young fella playing the game to play there at the highest level.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 December 1978. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
