At the opening of the Aviva Stadium: 1. Emer McDonnell, Susie Flynn and Holly White; 2. Alison O'Riordan; 3. Denis Crehan and Leanne Jones. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)
It was a much anticipated event as An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, TD, officially opened the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road, Dublin recently. The stadium which will be the new home for Ireland’s international rugby and soccer teams is a joint venture by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
Planning permission for the new stadium was received in March 2007 with work on site beginning two months later in May with the demolition of the old Lansdowne Road Stadium. From the start of demolition, through to the handing over of the stadium to the FAI and IRFU, the project took slightly less than three years to complete.
The result is a state-of-the-art 50,000 all seated stadium which while making a bold architectural statement does not impact environmentally on the Dublin skyline. The stadium, which is on four levels on three sides, sweeps down to one level at the northern end in respect to the housing at that end of the ground.
The first fixtures in the new stadium will see a Connacht/Munster rugby selection take on a Leinster/Ulster selection on 31 July, followed by an Airtricity League team playing Manchester United on 4 August. The first international will see Ireland’s soccer team playing former world champions Argentina on August 11. The first rugby international will see Ireland face current world champions South Africa on November 6.
