The redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium is taking shape on time and within budget.
The announcement that the new stadium at Lansdowne Road in Dublin will host the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup final in 2011 is not just a boost for the football community but also for the 600 workers on site.
By 2011, the UEFA Cup will be called the Europa League and the occasion will be the first time a major European soccer final has been staged in Ireland.
Michael Greene, the project director of the Lansdowne Road stadium development, says once planning permission was secured for the construction the railway line under the old west stand was the biggest technical challenge to overcome.
The €300m redevelopment, with a government contribution of €191m, will be completed on time and budget.
On time yeah, it’s due in for the end of April of next year, which is only, what, 14, 15 months away and we're on budget.
The new 50,000 capacity stadium is due for completion in April 2010. A joint opening ceremony will be hosted by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in May or June.
FAI chief executive John Delaney says the project is the biggest his organisation will ever be involved with.
Every time I come down here, it excites you, it’s something that you feel it’s a sense of history.
The first major international to be played at the new stadium will be the Republic of Ireland against South American opposition. Autumn rugby internationals will follow.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 30 January 2009. The reporter is Tony O'Donoghue.
