Witness to scenes of jubilation and frustration, the demise and redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium poses many questions for those who live in the area and those who visit this Dublin 4 enclave of national debate.

Despite the initial fears that the demolition of stadium would cause severe hassle for the residents of the area, the demolition of the stadium went ahead over the August bank holiday weekend. What was consoling that the prospect of an ultra-modern edifice rising phoenix-like from its ashes, to dominate the skyline of Dublin 4, was removed, at least on a temporary basis, pending the planning decisions on other nearby construction projects.

There are those who question the redevelopment, when land was available, in close proximity to motorways, but in my opinion it was better that tradition took precedent. Concerns and reservations about the project were noted and acted upon by the Planning Officers, with the residents experiencing minor changes during the demolition. For those less directly affected, the idea of being able to continue to attend rugby or soccer internationals in one of the nicest parts of Dublin, in a comfortable, seated, safe, relatively weatherproof stadium is a mouth-watering prospect.

Those who sat underneath the huge roof of the East Stand, had no protection against rain-laden wind that came straight in over the North Terrace. Bruised elbows and crushed ribs so often were incurred while trying to exit the stadium in the midst of the mass stampede took place after each final whistle. The politically correct environment of the 21st century dictates that crowd control, channelled exits, health and safety were to be incorporated into this new icon of Irish sporting aspirations.

The demise of this gargantuan of Irish sporting life came at 3.20pm on New Year’s Eve 2006. Forty-eight thousand, virtually a capacity crowd, came to watch Leinster beat Ulster in a Celtic League match, but equally importantly, to pay our respects to the Old Ground for the last time. The weather performed in is typically unpredictable manner of being bitterly cold, with a strong, gusty wind and vicious, squally showers.

There was not an official obituary for this occasion, as there had being a “Long Goodbye” that encompassed during 2006– the last Six Nations, the last Schools Finals, the last Soccer friendly. There was some cynical observers in media circles who saw the inability of the D4 personality to trans-locate to the Northern-Side for sporting encounters. It got so bad as D4’ers being subjected to geographical degradation as to the special topography of the northside. Alas this was no true.

While the re-positioned “Ruggers” were frustrated at the loss to our Gallic Friends, so much solace was regained by the demolition of English pride, when that convincing win occurred in Croke Park. Indeed so proud of the Irish triumphalism were two former Colonels of the Royal Irish Regiment, an ecstatic commentary was provided to their colleagues in Iraq and other diverse locations. Thank goodness for the mobile phone.

When the last whistle was blown on December 31st 2006, there was a real sense of history and occasion. At the final whistle, throughout the terraces and stands Leinster men and Ulster men shook hands, exchanged kind words, promising to meet again in Croke Park, and in the not to distant future, back in the auld spiritual home, a ‘new’ Lansdowne Road.

Conceived, designed and laid out one hundred and thirty years ago by Henry Wallace Dunlop, it has undergone many mutations in shape and activities. Dunlop saw the need for a multi-use sports ground, between the railway line and the river “out in the country near Lansdowne Road Station”, and took a sixty-nine year lease from the Pembroke Estate at £60 annual rent. In its early days there was a 500-yard cinder running track, a cricket pitch, a croquet lawn, tennis courts, archery butts, and of course the rugby field. Times move on and the standard of facilities increased for sporting fans through out the world. The combination of the IRFU and FAI realised that the travelling cavalcade of Irish sporting fans needed a “Theatre of Dreams”. Whether those dreams come true, only time will tell.
Patrick Hugh Lynch (pictured on Left Dec 31st 2006)
was assisted by Ray Mc Gee photographing the stadium.