Bohemian FC is delighted that this evening’s Dublin City Council meeting ratified the approval of the Part 8 Planning Application for the full Dalymount Park Redevelopment Project. This is a hugely significant day for our club.

The key details of the planning permission granted are:

• Reorientation of the pitch to a North/South Axis (105m x 68m) and installation of a new sand-based grass pitch
• The provision of club offices, bar and merchandise store
• New stands to the east and west side with provision for c. 6,240 seats and two new terraces to the north and south with provision for c. 1,794 standing. (8,034 total capacity)
• The provision of a public thoroughfare along the eastern boundary connecting North Circular Road and Connaught Street to include various eateries and a new public plaza
• A community facility with an area of 585sq.m over two floors to include a multi-functional community room and a community gym
• The provision of modern match-day facilities for teams and officials

This was the penultimate step in a long and complex process that the club has been engaged in since 2011 when the stadium’s future was uncertain. Many people, within Bohemian FC, DCC, political parties, the FAI and the local area have enabled us to reach this point.

Daniel Lambert, Bohemian FC COO, said:

“Dalymount Park has hosted thousands of football games, enjoyed by millions of supporters, continuously since 1901, while also being an integral part of the general sporting, cultural and societal fabric of Dublin City. It has, however, long passed its capability to provide an appropriate, safe and modern facility for football and community use. Despite this Dalymount Park remains sold-out every Friday, a testament to the strength of our club in its community.

“We have engaged extensively with DCC since their acquisition of the stadium in 2015 and thank them for their considerable efforts to get us to this point. We would also like to put on record our gratitude to various ministers for their engagement with the club over the years, in particular the strong support of Minister Paschal Donohoe, and also the cross-party support and engagement of many local TDs and councillors throughout the process.

“With planning now, we call on the government to ensure that the appropriate funding mechanism is in place to enable progression to construction phase. As we have seen across capital projects with levels of inflation, any delays to the process can cause significant complications and ultimately added cost to the exchequer.

“We now have a plan to deliver the right stadium for Bohs, Dublin 7 and the city as a whole, at a cost that is appropriate, and that has public and political support. What we need now is the government to ensure the right funding is now forthcoming so that we can have a community stadium to be proud of at the Home of Irish Football.

“The realisation of this redevelopment will be transformative, not only for Bohemian FC, across all of our extensive activities in football and social outreach work, but also for the local Dublin 7 community who gain greatly through the provision of a community building and new, safe, cycle and pedestrian routes in an inner-city environment.

“At present, many young fans and families cannot access Dalymount with every game sold out; young fans and aspiring young footballers unable to see their heroes. As a fan-owned football club, Bohemians’ growth, across all activities, is also currently restricted with match-day revenues key to our model, one which has no capacity for private enrichment, and solely aimed to be a force for good. It is hard to overstate the benefits the redevelopment will bring to the club and community, for many generations to come.”

Jonathan Hill, FAI CEO, said: 

“This is great news, and we thank and congratulate both Dublin City Council and Bohemian FC for all they have done to get us to this point. This is an exciting step forward in our wider Facility Vision, and we will look to replicate what’s been achieved here across other LOI clubs where a similar transformation of facilities, for players, fans and our media partners will enable us to change the face of Irish club football moving forward.”

Bohemian FC is today delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with St Kevin’s FC.

The partnership will cover our U13 and U14s League of Ireland boys academy teams and establish an in-depth shared strategic football oversight group that will ensure comprehensive player and coach development in Ireland’s best footballing facilities and environment.

The partnership provides a proven pathway for boys to develop from U13s level all the way to senior League of Ireland Football at Bohemian FC.

It will harness the combined depth of potential at both clubs and enhance our shared footballing communities across Dublin City.

In tandem, Bohemian FC will continue to strengthen and develop both our core youth teams and community-based football structures for hundreds of boys and girls from across the city, while simultaneously expanding our club affiliate model with like-minded Dublin clubs.

Bohemian FC Director of Football Pat Fenlon said: “This new agreement builds upon a long-standing relationship between Bohs and St Kevin’s, and will serve the ambitions and needs of both clubs well.

“St Kevin’s have a proven track record of developing young talent as Bohs fans will know from the quality players that came to the club over the past number of years from Kevin’s.

“We want the very best of players to come through that academy system, and there have been huge strides within our own youth structures at Bohemians as well to ensure that there are now several avenues available for players, both boys and girls.

“The addition of Ray Scully as Small Sided Games Coordinator last year has built on and complemented the work done by the Youth Committee and existing coaching structures at the club, and I feel that their efforts will really bear fruit in the coming seasons, with talented boys and girls coming through the system.

“As well as bringing through players from St Kevin’s and our own club structures, we will also continue to work closely with our affiliate clubs, so that the best young players across the city have a clear route to progress to academy level football.

“The future pathway through our academy to the first teams, both men’s and women’s, will be greatly enhanced by our plans to further develop the already excellent facilities at the Oscar Traynor Centre.

“These plans will be communicated to the membership of Bohemian FC in the coming months before being made public, but our aim is to ensure we have the very best academy facilities in Irish football.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka on a multi-year contract.

The Pole, 24, joins from Cypriot club ASIL Lysi and is the sixth signing of the closed season following the arrivals of Dubliners Rob Cornwall and Dayle Rooney, and Estonians Sten Reinkort, Martin Miller and Michael Lilander, bringing the number of first-team players signed for 2024 to 21.

Welcoming Chorazka to Dalymount Park, manager Declan Devine said: “We have done a lot of homework on Kacper. I’ve gone to watch him in Cyprus, and he has been on our radar since last season so I am delighted to get him over the line.

“He has played in Cyprus for a number of years but hasn’t been afraid to leave a comfortable lifestyle behind him there, which tells me a lot about the guy. He wants to come here to showcase his talent, and has a determination and desire to do really well.

“He is a talented boy who wants to push on, and is a player that I have spent a bit of time with recently and have had good conversations with in terms of where he wants to go in his career.

“He is very calm in possession of the ball, knows about the physicality of the League of Ireland, and is a very welcome addition to our squad.

“We are really looking forward to working with Kacper. We have good options now for the No 1 shirt with Kacper and Luke Dennison, and even more competition when James Talbot comes back into contention.”

First-team players signed for 2024 so far (21): James Akintunde, Keith Buckley, Cian Byrne, Kacper Chorazka, James Clarke, Dylan Connolly, Robert Cornwall, Luke Dennison, Jordan Flores,  Danny Grant, Paddy Kirk, Bartlomiej Kukulowicz, Michael Lilander, James McManus, Declan McDaid, Adam McDonnell, Martin Miller, Nickson Okosun, Sten Reinkort, Dayle Rooney, James Talbot.

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of defender Tiegan Ruddy from Shamrock Rovers.

Prior to last season’s stint with Rovers, the 23-year-old spent a year with FC Sion in Switzerland having previously played with Peamount and Shelbourne.

Welcoming Tiegan to Dalymount Park, manager Ken Kiernan said: “We are delighted to have signed Tiegan for the 2024 season.

“She will be very important for us to help implement our plans, on and off the pitch. She is a very versatile player who is able to cover multiple positions and she is technically excellent.

“What was very evident right from her first session with us was the quickness of her decision-making in each practice. She is a very good communicator and helps drive each session.

“Having played professionally in Switzerland and being involved with multiple international age groups and at senior level, she will bring experiences to our group that will give us another edge.

“More importantly, she is a great character and we look forward to helping her hit her own personal targets this year.”

Ruddy made her first appearance for the club away to Athlone Town this afternoon where Bohs came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 thanks to a brace from another new signing, Alannah McEvoy, in what was the side’s first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2024 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division campaign.

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of Ciara Smith.

The defender was most recently with Terenure Rangers, where she won the FAI Women’s Amateur Cup last year, and recently starred in the TG4 Underdogs series.

Welcoming Ciara to Dalymount Park, manager Ken Kiernan said: “We are delighted that Ciara agreed to sign. We got to track her most recently while taking part in the TG4 documentary, which culminated in a game in Eamonn Deacy Park against Galway.

“Ciara received the Player of the Match award after that game but what stood out other than her ability on the pitch was her character off it.

“She has settled straight into the group, her attitude to learning and improving is excellent and she is another player whose athleticism and fitness is immense.

“She is a brilliant defender who reads the game so well and is brilliant in 1v1s and aerial duels. She has a great range of passing and will be a leader within the group this season.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of Aoife Brophy.

The defender joins from DLR Waves, where she spent the past three seasons, having previously had two years with Kilkenny United.

Welcoming Aoife to Dalymount Park, manager Ken Kiernan said: “Aoife is a fantastic defender. She is quick, agile and brilliant at intercepting and transitioning forward. She is also very good at organising teammates around her.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing her develop in the defensive unit. She has settled into the group really well and has a fantastic attitude. She is a forward thinking player who has already led by example the last few weeks in training.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of Sarah McKevitt.

The winger, 25, joins from DLR Waves having previously lined out for Cork City, Peamount and Wexford.

Welcoming Sarah to Dalymount Park, manager Ken Kiernan said:

“Sarah is an out and out winger, who loves to take players on. In wide areas, her deliveries are timed, deliberate and extremely effective.

“She is a consummate professional and has a great understanding of the game.

“We feel Sarah gives us great scope to be able to play the way we are setting out to. She is lightning quick and her fitness levels are off the charts already. We are delighted to get her signed up for the season ahead.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Savannah Kane.

The 16-year-old, who rejoins from Shelbourne, said: “I had a really good chat with Ken Kiernan and I felt this was the best decision for me and my career.

“The girls have been really welcoming, they are a great bunch. I feel like we are going to be really successful this year as Ken plays really positive football and has really high standards.

“It’s really good to be in with the senior team. I feel like that group is developing as we get to know each other better each week. I played with Bohs with the U17s last season and then Shels under Ken. He is a really positive coach, and I learn more and more from him every day, so I am happy to be here.”

Kiernan said: “Savannah is such an intelligent footballer. Working with her at academy level, she was a step ahead all the time.

“Highly motivated in terms of her own development, she has come into senior training and hit the ground running immediately.

“She is a brilliant dribbler and has excellent releasing skills, always finding breaking-line passes for wingers and centre forwards around her.

“Adept at intercepting the ball from the opposition, she sees the game so well. She is such an exciting talented player, and the coaches and senior players are so happy to help her with her development this season.

“She is also a huge Bohs fan, so I know this opportunity means so much to her.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the signing of striker Alannah McEvoy from Shamrock Rovers.

Welcoming Alannah to Dalymount Park, manager Ken Kiernan said: “Alannah has been amazing since coming into the group – her professionalism shone through immediately.

“Having had such a consistent season with Shamrock Rovers in 2023, we were delighted to have her listen to our plan and agree to sign.

“Her movement as an attacking player is unrivalled in the league and her finishing is top class.

“She can play as well off her left as her right foot, and this gives her an edge in the final third. She has a brilliant work-rate off the ball, and has an incredible will to win.

“Involved in the tour of America before the World Cup with the Irish senior team, Alannah has ambitions to be involved this coming season again.

“We look forward to her adding another edge to our attacking unit and scoring and assisting a lot of goals this season. A brilliant character and although still only 22, she has already been a brilliant role model for the players around her.”

Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm Lisa Murphy and Katie Malone have re-signed for the 2024 season.

Manager Ken Kiernan said: “Lisa was a key player for Bohs last year, playing 95% of minutes. Immediately it was evident how important to the fabric of the group she would be again this season.

“We are three weeks into pre-season now and she has thrived in training. Leading constantly by example in our practices, her will to win everything is infectious.

“She’s been an amazing role model to the younger players we have recruited so far.

“An excellent 1v1 defender with an incredible range of pass, I think Lisa will score some important goals this season for Bohemians off set pieces.

“Katie is such an athlete, shows incredible stenght to hold off defenders when looking to spin in behind or link play.

“Katie will be a brilliant trigger for how we want to defend without the ball, she simply gives no opposition player time in possession, she is hungry to constantly improve and score goals.

“She has been amazing to work with so far. Alan Murphy, my assistant, has been working closely with her on her game and in a couple of weeks she has taken huge strides.

“She is a brilliant character on and off the pitch, and has a big season ahead for her.”