View source for Semple Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{infobox venue
| name = FBD Semple Stadium
| nickname = ''Tom Semple's Field''<br />''The Home of Hurling''<br />''Field of Legends''<br />''Thurles Sportsfield''
| logo_image = [[File:Semple_Stadium_Logo.jpg|200px]]
| image = Semple1.jpg
| location = [[Thurles]], [[County Tipperary]], E41 C956, Ireland
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|40|56|N|7|49|30|W|region:IE_type:landmark |display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = 1910
| opened = 1910
| renovated = 1934 <br /> 1968 <br /> 1981 <br /> 2007–2009
| owner = <!-- Commented out: [[File:TIPP-GAA-CREST.png|20px]] -->[[Tipperary GAA]]
| capacity = 45,690 (24,000 seated)<ref name="Semple capacity" />
| website = {{URL|http://Tipperary.gaa.ie}}
| dimensions = 145 x 90 m
| publictransit = [[Thurles railway station]]
}}
'''FBD Semple Stadium''' is the home of [[hurling]] and [[Gaelic football]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tipperary.gaa.ie/tipperary-gaa/semple-stadium/|title = Semple Stadium}}</ref> for [[Tipperary GAA]] and for the province of [[Munster]]. Located in [[Thurles]], [[County Tipperary]], it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland (after [[Croke Park]]), with a capacity of 45,690 and named after [[Tom Semple]], the captain of the Thurles "Blues". He won All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1900, 1906, and 1908.<ref name="Semple capacity">{{cite web|url=http://www.tipperary.gaa.ie/semple-stadium|title= Semple Stadium Information|work=Tipperary.gaa.ie|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref>

The stadium is the leading venue for Munster hurling followers, having hosted the [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster Hurling Final]] on many memorable occasions.

==Facilities==
[[File:Semple Stadium exterior 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Semple Stadium, exterior south side]]
The main or 'Old Stand' of the ground (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Coinneáin' or 'Dr Kinane Stand' named after [[Jeremiah Kinane]]) lies across from the 'New Stand' (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Riáin') both of which are covered. Behind the goals are two uncovered terraces known as the 'Town End' (also known as the 'Davin Terrace') and the 'Killinan End'  (also known as the 'Maher Terrace') respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticketmaster.ie/seatingchart/197117/12021|title= Semple Stadium Seating Plan |work=Ticketmaster.ie|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref>

Currently the stadium has a capacity of 45,690, of which 24,000 are seated.

===The Dome===
The sports hall accommodates a full-sized basketball court suitable for national standard competition. The hall is also lined for badminton, volleyball, and indoor soccer. It is used in the evenings and weekends by the Tipperary hurling and football teams for training and on match days; the building is used to accommodate GAA and sponsor guests for corporate lunches and functions. It has also been used as a music venue.

===Proposed development===
In July 2018 Tipperary County Board prepared to submit plans to Tipperary County Council to see the Kinane stand redeveloped into a multi-purpose facility.

The proposal would see the "Old Stand" as it is known to many, have a second level created over the concourse at the back of the stand. The half nearest the Killinan End terrace will be dedicated to players and will include a full-sized gym, physio room, stats/analysis room plus changing rooms and toilet facilities. The other half, towards the Sarsfields Centre side, would include a function room to accommodate up to 250 people, with adjoining bar and kitchen facility for catering. The development will also include a new corridor leading to a new VIP enclosure area in the Kinnane stand. The estimated cost of the project is €5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/sport/gaa/articles/2018/07/11/4158718-plans-at-an-advanced-stage-for-multimillion-euro-investment-in-thurles-gaa-facilities/|title=Plans at an advanced stage for multi-million euro investment in Thurles GAA facilities|date=11 July 2018|work=Nenagh Guardian|access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref>

The planning application for the development was lodged with Tipperary County Council in April 2019. The planning application included reconfiguration of the seating area and modifications to the ground floor, including turnstiles, the construction of a new exit gate, and three service cores providing access to upper floor levels, which would include wheelchair-accessible turnstiles. Wilson Architecture in Cork was commissioned to help put together the planning application.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/approval-on-hold-for-semple-stadium-plan-930462.html|title=Approval on hold for Semple Stadium plan|date=13 June 2019|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> Planning permission was granted in April 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/amp/1129247/|title = Semple Stadium to get multi-million euro facelift|website = [[RTÉ.ie]]}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Semple Stadium north east 01.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Semple Stadium, north-east corner]]
The grounds on which Semple Stadium is built were formerly known as Thurles Sportsfield. The site was offered for sale in 1910 at the wish of Canon [[Michael Kennedy Ryan|M.K. Ryan]] and was purchased by local Gaelic games enthusiasts for £900. To meet the cost of the purchase, an issue of shares was subscribed by the townspeople. The grounds remained in the hands of the shareholders until 1956 when they were transferred to the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]].

In 1934 in anticipation of the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland Hurling Final]] being held in the grounds to mark the golden jubilee of the Association, extensive improvements were made to bring the field requirements up to the demands which a crowd of up to 60,000 would make. The embankments around the field were raised and extended and the stand accommodation was also extended. However, the jubilee final was held in Croke Park and it was another 50 years before the stadium would host the All-Ireland final as a showpiece to mark the centenary.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In 1968 further developments took place when the Dr. Kinane Stand was completed and opened. In 1971 the stadium was named after [[Tom Semple]], who was captain of the Thurles "Blues". He won [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] medals in 1900, 1906 and 1908. The Ardán Ó Riáin opposite the Kinane Stand and the terracing at the town end of the field were completed in 1981 at a cost of £500,000. This development and the terracing at the Killinan end of the field were part of a major improvement scheme for the celebration of the centenary [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland Hurling Final]] between [[Cork (city)|Cork]] and [[Offaly]] in 1984.

Dublin v Kerry in the quarter-finals of the [[2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] was held at Semple Stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0430/1135798-2001-a-semple-odyssey-for-dublin-and-kerry/|title=2001: A Semple Odyssey for Dublin and Kerry|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=3 May 2020|quote=The draw that year had a major headline act as the reigning All-Ireland champions, Kerry, were drawn to face Dublin. That was just as well because the rest of the draw threw up three games we had seen already. Roscommon and Galway; Derry and Tyrone; Meath and Westmeath. They had already played each other in their respective provinces... The fact that this game was being played in at Semple Stadium added a huge novelty factor to the serious business of Dublin against Kerry.}}</ref>

In April 2006 Tipperary County Board announced an €18 million redevelopment plan for the Stadium. The three-year project aimed to boost capacity to over 55,000, as well as providing a wide range of modern facilities such as corporate space concessions, dining and changing areas within both main stands. There were also plans to upgrade the standing terraces and install a modern floodlighting facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/04/21/story901173965.asp|title=Semple Stadium set to get €18m facelift|date=21 April 2006|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=20 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128045303/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/04/21/story901173965.asp|archive-date=28 January 2007}}</ref> Phase one of the upgrade project, upgrading the Kinnane Stand side of the stadium, involved expenditure of €5.5 million.

On 14 February 2009 the new state of the art floodlights were switched on by [[President of the Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA President]] [[Nickey Brennan]] before the [[National Hurling League]] game against [[Cork GAA|Cork]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/0214/tipperary_cork.html|title=Tipperary 2–15 Cork 0-09|date=14 February 2009|publisher=RTÉ Sport|access-date=20 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218123424/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/0214/tipperary_cork.html|archive-date=18 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Tipperary/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=106851|title= Switching on of Floodlights at Semple Stadium|date=11 February 2009|work=Hoganstand.com|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Hawk-Eye]] was installed in the stadium and used for the first time during the [[2016 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|Munster Championship quarter-final]] between [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] and [[Cork GAA|Cork]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0520/789785-hawkeye-set-for-semple-stadium/|title= Hawkeye set for first use at Semple Stadium|date=20 May 2016|publisher=RTÉ Sport|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref>

After 28 minutes of play in a [[2022 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship]] game for [[Clonoulty–Rossmore GAA|Clonoulty–Rossmore]] against [[Kilruane GAA|Kilruane]] at Semple Stadium, [[Dillon Quirke]] collapsed and died.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clonoulty/Rossmore and Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke passes away |url=https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2022/08/05/clonoulty-rossmore-and-tipperary-hurler-dillon-quirke-passes-away/ |website=Nenagh Guardian |date=5 August 2022 |access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rip.ie/death-notice/dillon-quirke-rossmore-tipperary/504059|title=The death has occurred of Dillon Quirke|publisher=[[RIP.ie]]|date=5 August 2022|quote=Unexpectedly in Semple Stadium.}}</ref>

An architectural consultancy has been{{when|date=March 2024}} appointed to lead a design team, tasked with preparing a master plan for the redevelopment of Semple Stadium.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

===Music festival===
{{main article|Féile Festival}}
The [[Féile (music festival)|Féile Festival]], ran from 1990 to 1994 (and returned in 1997 for one day), was held at Semple Stadium. At the height of its success, an estimated 150,000 people attended the festival, which was also known as "The Trip to Tipp".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tipperarystar.ie/news/Feile-Return-Urged-forThurles.5439907.jp|title=Tipperary Star", "Trip to Tipp"|website=tipperarystar.ie|access-date=2 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913044600/http://www.tipperarystar.ie/news/Feile-Return-Urged-forThurles.5439907.jp|archive-date=13 September 2012}}</ref> Irish and international artists participated, including [[The Prodigy]], [[The Cranberries]], [[Blur (band)|Blur]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Rage Against the Machine]], [[The Saw Doctors]] and [[Christy Moore]].

The Féile Classical Concerts took place at Semple Stadium in September 2018. Line up included Irish musical acts that played in the 1990s at the Féile festivals.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.feileclassical.ie/| title = FÉILE}}</ref> Named as Tipp Classical, it will return in September 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://tippclassical.com/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190228174700/https://tippclassical.com/| url-status = usurped| archive-date = 28 February 2019| title = Classical AudioBooks and More – Best Audiobooks Reviewed}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Rail===
Semple Stadium is a five-minute walk from [[Thurles railway station]]. The station is on the [[Dublin Heuston railway station|Dublin]] to [[Cork Kent railway station|Cork]] main rail line with connections to [[Limerick Colbert railway station|Limerick]] and [[Tralee railway station|Tralee]] lines. [[Iarnród Éireann]] operates 'GAA Specials' to the station on the date of certain matches at Semple stadium.<ref>[http://www.irishrail.ie Irish Rail] main website</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2024}}

==Naming rights==
In 2022, [[FBD Holdings|FBD Insurance]] entered into a [[naming rights]] agreement which provided for the stadium to be referred to as "FBD Semple Stadium".<ref>{{cite web|title=FBD Insurance announces title sponsorship of Semple Stadium|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news/fbd-insurance-announces-title-sponsorship-of-semple-stadium/|website=GAA website|access-date=20 April 2023|date=18 January 2022}}</ref>

==Images==
<gallery mode=packed>
Semple Stadium interior 3.jpg|Killinan End (west seating) and New Stand (north seating)
Semple Stadium interior 5.jpg|Old Stand, looking from the Town End
Semple Stadium interior 4.jpg|New Stand, looking from the Town End
Semple Stadium interior 2.jpg|Semple Stadium field view from Town End (east seating area)
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums]]
* [[List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.irelandaerialphotography.com/aerial_photos/dr_f2_3918_thurles_stadium.html Aerial Photograph at irelandaerialphotography.com]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title  = [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] <br /> [[1984 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final|Final Venue]]
| before = [[Croke Park]] <br /> [[Dublin]]
| after  = [[Croke Park]] <br /> [[Dublin]]
| years  = [[1984 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|1984]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Gaelic games venues}}
{{Tipperary GAA}}

[[Category:1910 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Sport in Thurles]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1934]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1968]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1981]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2009]]
[[Category:Sports venues in County Tipperary]]
[[Category:Tipperary GAA venues]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in County Tipperary]]
[[Category:21st-century architecture in the Republic of Ireland]]