Irish stadium set for €40-million redevelopment

Expect big changes in Dublin’s northside as the iconic home of one of Ireland’s most successful football teams undergoes a €40-million redevelopment.

Dalymount Park, home to Bohemian FC, is set to undergo a €40-million redevelopment that will see the stadium’s capacity almost double.

The redevelopment is good news, not just for Bohs fans, but also for local residents who will gain community facilities, bars, restaurants, and a new public plaza.

Officials hope that the redeveloped Dalymount Park will be open for business by 2027, subject to government funding.

Bohemian FC – Ireland’s oldest football club

Established in 1890, Bohemian FC is Ireland’s oldest association football club in continuous operation.

They finished a disappointing sixth in last season’s League of Ireland Premier Division, but remain the fourth most successful team in Irish football thanks to 11 league titles, seven FAI Cups, six League of Ireland Shields, and three League of Ireland Cups.

The past fifteen years have proved something of a barren spell for Bohs, with their last major title coming in 2009. That said, they remain one of the best-supported teams in the country, boasting an average attendance of 4,240 last season.

Dalymount Park – Bohs’ Phibsborough home

Located in Phibsborough, in the north of Dublin, Dalymount Park has been Bohs’ home since the turn of the 20^th century. It also often held the home matches of the Irish national football team throughout the course of the century

Indeed, the stadium’s record attendance of 48,000 was recorded during a match between Ireland and bitter rivals England in 1957.

In the 1980s, however, Ireland began playing home matches at Lansdowne Road more often, and Dalymount Park fell into disrepair.

The poor state of the stadium became apparent when Ireland played Italy in 1985, and a subsequent safety review reduced Dalymount Park’s capacity to 22,000.

Dalymount Park underwent a £1.1 million redevelopment in 1999, which turned the dilapidated Main Stand into the 2,742-seater Jodi Stand. However, at present, the stadium possesses only two operational spectator stands.

Redevelopment – a new-look Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park’s lack of space and Bohs’ comparatively high average attendance are the driving forces behind the stadium’s redevelopment.

The club’s COO, Daniel Lambert, explained, “Dalymount Park remains sold-out every Friday [and] many young fans and families cannot access Dalymount with every game sold out; young fans and aspiring young footballers unable to see their heroes”.

To combat this, new stands built around the ground will see Dalymount Park’s capacity almost double to over 8,000.

The redevelopment plans will also see the pitch reorientated to a north/south axis, along with provisions for club offices, bars, and a merchandise store.

Perhaps most important for Phibsborough residents, though, will be the effect the redevelopment will have on the local area. Plans include a community room, a community gym, and a new public thoroughfare to connect North Circular Road and Connaught Street.

This public walkway will include bars, restaurants, and a new public plaza.

Lambert added, “The realisation of this redevelopment will be transformative, not only for Bohemian FC, across all of our extensive activities in football and social outreach work, but also for the local Dublin 7 community”.

It is hoped that, subject to government funding, the new-look Dalymount Park will be operational in time for the League of Ireland’s 2027 season.