Semple Stadium facts for kids
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Tom Semple's Field
The Home of Hurling Field of Legends Thurles Sportsfield |
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| Location | Thurles, County Tipperary, E41 C956, Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 52°40′56″N 7°49′30″W / 52.68222°N 7.82500°W |
| Public transit | Thurles railway station |
| Owner | Tipperary GAA |
| Capacity | 45,690 (24,000 seated) |
| Field size | 145 x 90 m |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1910 |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Renovated | 1934 1968 1981 2007–2009 |
FBD Semple Stadium is a famous sports ground in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. It's the main home for hurling and Gaelic football in Tipperary GAA and the whole Munster area. It's the second biggest stadium for Gaelic games in Ireland, after Croke Park. The stadium can hold 45,690 people. It's named after Tom Semple, a legendary captain from Thurles who won many All-Ireland Hurling Championships.
This stadium is a very important place for hurling fans in Munster. It has hosted many exciting Munster Hurling Finals over the years.
Contents
What's Inside Semple Stadium?
Semple Stadium has different parts for fans to watch games. The main stand is called the 'Old Stand' or 'Ardán Ó Coinneáin'. It's also known as the 'Dr Kinane Stand'. Across from it is the 'New Stand', or 'Ardán Ó Riáin'. Both of these stands have roofs to keep people dry.
Behind the goals, there are two open areas called terraces. These are known as the 'Town End' (or 'Davin Terrace') and the 'Killinan End' (or 'Maher Terrace'). The stadium can hold 45,690 people in total, with 24,000 of those seats being covered.
The Dome: A Multi-Sport Hall
The stadium also has a special sports hall called The Dome. This hall is big enough for a full-sized basketball court. It can also be used for sports like badminton, volleyball, and indoor soccer.
Sports teams from Tipperary use The Dome for training in the evenings and on weekends. On match days, it's a place where guests and sponsors can have lunch and other events. Sometimes, The Dome is even used for music concerts!
Plans for Future Upgrades
In July 2018, there were plans to make the Kinane Stand even better. The idea was to add a second level to this stand. One part of the new level would be for players. It would have a big gym, a physio room, and new changing rooms.
The other part would be a function room for up to 250 people. It would also have a bar and kitchen for food. These plans were approved in April 2020. This means the stadium continues to improve for players and fans.
A Look Back: Semple Stadium's History
The land where Semple Stadium stands was once called Thurles Sportsfield. It was bought in 1910 for £900 by local people who loved Gaelic games. They sold shares to the townspeople to help pay for it. In 1956, the land was given to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Big improvements were made in 1934. The banks around the field were made higher and longer. The seating areas were also expanded. This was done because people hoped the All-Ireland Hurling Final would be held there.
In 1968, the Dr. Kinane Stand was finished and opened. Then, in 1971, the stadium was officially named after Tom Semple. He was a famous hurler who led the Thurles "Blues" team to win All-Ireland medals in 1900, 1906, and 1908. More parts of the stadium, like the Ardán Ó Riáin and the terraces, were finished in 1981. These upgrades helped the stadium host the 1984 All-Ireland Hurling Final.
In April 2006, there were plans for a huge €18 million upgrade. The goal was to make the stadium even bigger, holding over 55,000 people. It also aimed to add modern facilities like better changing rooms and dining areas. New floodlights were turned on in February 2009 by GAA President Nickey Brennan. In 2016, a special camera system called Hawk-Eye was installed to help with referee decisions.
Sadly, in 2022, a player named Dillon Quirke passed away during a game at the stadium. This was a very sad day for the GAA community. Today, experts are still working on a master plan to keep improving Semple Stadium.
Music and Fun: The Féile Festival
Semple Stadium isn't just for sports; it's also hosted music! The Féile Festival was a huge music event held here from 1990 to 1994. It was so popular that people called it "The Trip to Tipp." At its peak, about 150,000 people came to enjoy the music.
Many famous Irish and international bands played at Féile. Some of these included The Prodigy, The Cranberries, Blur, Bryan Adams, Van Morrison, and Rage Against the Machine. The festival even returned in 2018 and 2019 as "Tipp Classical," bringing back music from the 1990s.
Getting to Semple Stadium
Travel by Train
It's easy to get to Semple Stadium by train. The stadium is only a five-minute walk from Thurles railway station. This station is on the main train line that connects Dublin to Cork. You can also connect to trains going to Limerick and Tralee. On big match days, Irish Rail often runs special "GAA Specials" trains to Thurles.
New Name for the Stadium
In 2022, FBD Insurance made a deal to help support the stadium. Because of this, the stadium is now officially called "FBD Semple Stadium."
Images for kids
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The Killinan End (west seating) and the New Stand (north seating).
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A view of the Old Stand, looking from the Town End.
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The New Stand, looking from the Town End.
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A field view of Semple Stadium from the Town End (east seating area).
See also
- List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums
- List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity
