The re-development of Pearse Stadium in Galway is essential to the revitalisation of Gaelic games within the city boundaries, according to the chairman of Galway county board, Frank Burke.

He was speaking at the official launch of Pearse Stadium 2000 in Galway yesterday.

"It is critical that we bring this project to a successful conclusion given the potential for developing the games in the city. Playing games here and the natural buzz that will bring the locality can only have a positive effect on those in the locality," he said.

The board intends that the £4 million project will become the physical and spiritual centre of Gaelic games in the west of Ireland. The capacity will be 34,000, including a stand holding 9,000 people.

The stadium is scheduled to open next summer.