Updated 2.35pm
A PUBLIC SCREENING of the Euro 2016 match between Ireland and France will be held in Dublin city centre this Sunday.
A fan zone and large screen will be set up at Smithfield Square to accommodate fans looking to watch the match, Labour Dublin City Councillor, Rebecca Moynihan, told TheJournal.ie this afternoon.
“Final details have yet to be confirmed but a fan zone will be set up this Sunday,” said Moynihan, who is head of Dublin City Council’s Arts, Culture, Sports, Community and Recreation committee.
Dublin City Council confirmed it would provide a fan zone area in Smithfield Plaza from 2pm on Sunday.
“The event is a family friendly one and the area will be a strictly alcohol free zone,” it said in a statement.
An event plan is currently being formulated and further details will be issued tomorrow, it said.
In the Dáil this afternoon, Labour leader Brendan Howlin called for a match screening to be set up in Dublin city centre, saying “every other major city has a fan zone with big screens”.
“Is there any prospect the government or Dublin City Council could provide…a facility for fans to enjoy the magnificent atmosphere?” he asked.
Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said Howlin could “certainly approach the relevant bodies”.
“We handled the public screening in relation to the results of the marriage equality very well in Dublin Castle so I’m sure that could be replicated,” she said.
Ireland is into the knockout stages of Euro 2016 after a remarkable win against Italy last night. Martin O’Neill’s team now faces France in Lyon on Sunday, with kick-off at 2pm.
Howlin’s call for a public screening was echoed by fans on Twitter, with Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square and Smithfield Square all put forward as possible Dublin venues.
Dublin City Councillor Allison Gilliland also called on Dublin City Council to provide alcohol-free, family-friendly big screen viewings in Dublin city centre.
“The match against France takes place on Sunday afternoon and appropriate facilities should be provided to allow families to enjoy the game in a safe and atmospheric way,” Gilliland said in a statement this afternoon.
Everyone remembers the fabulous scenes of community celebration in Dublin Castle on the occasion of the Yes vote in last year’s marriage referendum. We should provide similar facilities to celebrate our country’s incredible sporting achievement.
Meanwhile, tickets for Sunday’s game went on sale at 1pm this afternoon through Uefa’s official online portal.
Demand is expected to be extremely high, with the FAI saying it is currently in negotiations with Uefa over securing a further allocation of tickets for Ireland.
RTÉ has announced it will be broadcasting the live coverage of the Republic of Ireland v France game on RTÉ 2, Radio 1 and RTÉ player.
RTÉ said it will also retain first choice on matches in the rest of the knock-out stages, with live coverage of the final to be shared with rival TV3.
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