Sport in Ireland - Stadia

Stadia

See also: List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity

Ireland's largest stadium is the GAA's Croke Park in Dublin, which can hold 82,300 people. It is the fourth largest stadium in Europe. Until recently, it was only used for Gaelic games and concerts. Other GAA facilities apable of accommodating 50,000 or more people are Semple Stadium, Thurles, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork.

International soccer and rugby in the Republic of Ireland were played at Lansdowne Road prior to its closure and redevelopment. When the stadium closed late in 2006, it could accommodate approximately 35,000 people for soccer and 50,000 for rugby union (the difference is because standing-room terraces cannot be used for international soccer but can be used for rugby union). Early in 2007, the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road into a modern 50,000-capacity all-seater began, and in the interim, the GAA permitted rugby and soccer internationals to be played in Croke Park. The new Aviva Stadium opened in May 2010. Thomond Park, a rugby ground in Limerick, has been rebuilt into a modern 26,000-capacity stadium, though not all-seated.

Ireland currently has three Olympic-sized swimming pools – two of which are open to the public. The largest – located at Sports Campus Ireland – is the National Aquatic Centre. Ireland has several large horse and greyhound tracks such as Fairyhouse.

Plans to develop a Northern Ireland stadium at the site of the former Maze prison in County Antrim to cater for Gaelic games, rugby and soccer were scrapped in 2009 after opposition from unionists and soccer fans. Alternative plans from private consortia have emerged to build a stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland's biggest city.

The Ireland national cricket team play One Day Internationals at Stormont in Belfast and at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Clontarf, Dublin. Ireland also plays Intercontinental Cup matches at the Woodvale Road ground.

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