Shelbourne FC secure 250-year Tolka Park lease

Shelbourne Football Club has confirmed that Dublin City Council has voted in favour of granting the club a 250-year lease for Tolka Park. This decision marks a significant milestone in the club’s history and secures the future of Shelbourne’s home for generations to come.

The League of Ireland side said in a statement:

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the executive and the councillors of Dublin City Council for their support and recognition of the importance of Tolka Park to Shelbourne FC, the local community and Irish football as a whole. This long-term lease provides us with the stability and foundation needed to continue to build Shelbourne FC on and off the pitch. Our commitment as part of the agreement to investment in community based full time roles underscore the club’s ambition to further grassroots football development and community engagement in the Drumcondra area and beyond.

Tolka Park holds a special place in the hearts of our supporters, players, and staff, and we are excited about the opportunities this long term agreement brings for further investment and enhancement of the facilities, details of which will be communicated in due course. Tolka Park is one of Dublin’s most storied sporting venues, all at Shelbourne FC are proud to be entrusted as custodians and to build upon the rich history and heritage of the ground, which this year celebrates its centenary, as we strive for success both on and off the pitch.

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The statement continued:

We look forward to working closely with Dublin City Council and our community partners to ensure that Tolka Park will be a vibrant hub for football and a source of pride for the entire community for future generations of Dubliners.

This evening’s historic vote will be celebrated by many who have played their part in making it happen. Shelbourne FC extends its gratitude to everyone involved in reaching this crucial juncture, our supporters, staff, shareholders, board members, players, and volunteers. We would also like to place on record our sincere thanks to all those involved in the Save Tolka Park campaign for their immeasurable contribution.

Shelbourne FC and Tolka Park’s fate have been intertwined for many decades and tonight’s decision heralds a new chapter in the 129 year history of our club and one of the city’s most treasured and hallowed sporting arenas. 

Speaking on Virgin News, Shelbourne FC CEO, Barry Mocke, said:

It’s massive for the club and supporters… The fact that we’re in control of own destiny is crucial.

There’s a lot of work to be done in the Main Stand, the old Drumcondra End needs quite significant work, and we need to re-do the pitch. We anticipate getting this work done within 2 years. With the changes we have planned, we’ll get the ground up from the current 4,755-capacity to just under 6,000.

Dublin City Council had previously taken control of Tolka Park back in 2016 as part of a planned deal that would have seen Shelbourne move into a redeveloped Dalymount Park alongside local derby rivals Bohemians. However, this was not popular among fans, who set up the ‘Save Tolka Park’ campaign, which successfully lobbied DCC.

Image, credit: Tyler Miller, Sportsfile

Source: Shelbourne FC

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