Páirc Uí Chaoimh is ready to open its doors for All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals

PÁIRC Uí Chaoimh is ready to swing open its new doors and host the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals on the weekend of July 22/23, according to county chairman Ger Lane.

‘It’s all systems go for the Tipperary and Clare game on Saturday, July 22nd at 3pm and for the other quarter-final, Wexford versus Waterford, on the following day at 4pm,’ said Cork County Board chairman Ger Lane.

‘We are really looking forward to welcoming the teams and supporters from the four counties and elsewhere to our magnificent new stadium.

‘We now have a stadium comparable to the very best of which the GAA community and the city can be proud.

‘Not only will it be a state of the art venue to showcase Gaelic Games, it also incorporates a Centre of Excellence which will house playing and training facilities for our county teams, including  a floodlit, full scale all-weather pitch, performance assessment and rehab facilities.

‘The stadium facilities add further leisure and conference infrastructure to Cork city from which it will gain substantial economic benefits,’ Lane added.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh is now a 45,000 capacity, floodlit stadium with covered seating for 21,000 patrons. The stadium has uninterrupted views throughout, increased circulation space and top of the range facilities for teams, officials and patrons.

The newly developed stadium is the first in Ireland to meet EU standards, has 32 hot food kiosks, shops and bars and separate entry to all areas at all levels.

Access to the stadium will be through 72 turnstiles, twice the previous number, and there are 20 Exits from the stadium. The stadium contains restaurants and conference facilities and provides 220 wheelchair spaces for spectators and their companions.

Prior to the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals, local residents, who were praised by the chairman of the Stadium Redevelopment Steering Committee Bob Ryan, will visit the Stadium.

‘We worked very hard to mitigate the impact of such a large construction project on local residents and we are grateful for their co-operation in ironing out any issues that arose,’ Ryan said.