Munster Rugby have been granted planning permission to build an indoor training facility at Irish Independent Park in Cork.
The project will mainly serve the Reds' underage sides and is set to be built on the Pearse Road end of the stadium formerly known as Musgrave Park.
Munster say it'll include a synthetic 60 by 40 metres all-weather playing surface, a 2,000 square feet gym, dressing rooms, treatment rooms, a kitchen and public toilets.
They also intend to increase parking spaces and build a new ticket booth at the Cork venue as part of the development which is due to get underway toward the end of this year.
The province's acting CEO Philip Quinn has welcomed the decision by Cork County Council to rubber-stamp the development.
“Planning has been approved and we have made an application to the large-scale sports infrastructure fund and we will be hopeful of a positive outcome. If it all goes well, work will start on the new facility at the end of the year or early next year once the grant funding is announced.
“We want a high-quality hub for provincial rugby and a superb facility for our surrounding community and that’s exactly what we’re going to bring for the region.
“The new facility will be available to local schools, clubs and community groups as necessary.
“The installation of our new modified 3G pitch has been a fantastic success and this is the next step for us.
“We want to engage with our local community and our 3G pitch has hosted all sorts of events in a number of different sports, not just rugby, since it opened last year.
“Long-term, we see Irish Independent Park as being a municipal stadium, open to all. Rugby will always be number one here but let’s engage, let’s get people in here to what is a fantastic sporting facility.”
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