National Forum

Best/Worst County Grounds

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https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/rated-and-slated-all-32-gaa-county-grounds-assessed-but-how-does-yours-measure-up-40322039.html

Having been at Nowlan Park numerous times no issue with it getting number 1, brilliant venue for games around 15-22k crowd, our own county ground of Wexford Park making the top half was surprising, the 2nd worst county ground in the country for wind after salthill but open to correction. When I seen a list article on the independent website presumed it was Martin Brehony!!

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 17/04/2021 17:41:09    2337546

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Bear in mind that The Indo is not known as a supporter of GAA.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2614 - 18/04/2021 10:17:23    2337632

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Replying To galwayford:  "Bear in mind that The Indo is not known as a supporter of GAA."
Bear in mind too that the journalist who wrote the article regularly referred to the press boxes. He was certainly considering the grounds more so from the point of a journalist rather than from the point of view of either spectators or players. The list doesn't really refer to the facilities for players or spectators. I haven't been to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Nowlan Park or Markiewicz Park therefore I can't comment on those grounds. I've been to every other county ground in the country. He is disparaging of Pearse Stadium in Galway most particularly from the point of view of access and wind conditions. If you park your car on the Prom it's a ten to fifteen minute walk. The facilities are very good from the point of view of spectators and participants. Breffni Park is ranked highly yet it too is difficult to access and it's facilities for players don't compare with Pearse Stadium. He ranks Fitzgerald Stadium at number four. The stadium needs a fair bit of TLC. He cites the surrounding views as one of it's strong points. I'm fairly sure that most spectators are not too bothered about views when the game is on. All of these lists are subjective. My own personal favourite is the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. The facilities are very good for all concerned, it's reasonably good for access and parking and the atmosphere generated is terrific. As I said these lists are subjective and I'm sure my pleasure is someone else's poison.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6178 - 18/04/2021 11:25:54    2337651

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Bear in mind too that the journalist who wrote the article regularly referred to the press boxes. He was certainly considering the grounds more so from the point of a journalist rather than from the point of view of either spectators or players. The list doesn't really refer to the facilities for players or spectators. I haven't been to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Nowlan Park or Markiewicz Park therefore I can't comment on those grounds. I've been to every other county ground in the country. He is disparaging of Pearse Stadium in Galway most particularly from the point of view of access and wind conditions. If you park your car on the Prom it's a ten to fifteen minute walk. The facilities are very good from the point of view of spectators and participants. Breffni Park is ranked highly yet it too is difficult to access and it's facilities for players don't compare with Pearse Stadium. He ranks Fitzgerald Stadium at number four. The stadium needs a fair bit of TLC. He cites the surrounding views as one of it's strong points. I'm fairly sure that most spectators are not too bothered about views when the game is on. All of these lists are subjective. My own personal favourite is the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. The facilities are very good for all concerned, it's reasonably good for access and parking and the atmosphere generated is terrific. As I said these lists are subjective and I'm sure my pleasure is someone else's poison."
Greengrass mo chara. How is she cutting? I thought Drawda would be top of your list?

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1035 - 18/04/2021 12:36:33    2337664

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Replying To galwayford:  "Bear in mind that The Indo is not known as a supporter of GAA."
Well thats completely false.
Is anyone in your eyes a supporter of the GAA?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 18/04/2021 12:48:42    2337665

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I've the grounds I've been too i'd rate Newbridge the bottom, felt like a greyhound stadium more than a county ground, bear in mind ive been to Walsh Park but not Drogheda.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 18/04/2021 12:52:10    2337666

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Bear in mind too that the journalist who wrote the article regularly referred to the press boxes. He was certainly considering the grounds more so from the point of a journalist rather than from the point of view of either spectators or players. The list doesn't really refer to the facilities for players or spectators. I haven't been to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Nowlan Park or Markiewicz Park therefore I can't comment on those grounds. I've been to every other county ground in the country. He is disparaging of Pearse Stadium in Galway most particularly from the point of view of access and wind conditions. If you park your car on the Prom it's a ten to fifteen minute walk. The facilities are very good from the point of view of spectators and participants. Breffni Park is ranked highly yet it too is difficult to access and it's facilities for players don't compare with Pearse Stadium. He ranks Fitzgerald Stadium at number four. The stadium needs a fair bit of TLC. He cites the surrounding views as one of it's strong points. I'm fairly sure that most spectators are not too bothered about views when the game is on. All of these lists are subjective. My own personal favourite is the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. The facilities are very good for all concerned, it's reasonably good for access and parking and the atmosphere generated is terrific. As I said these lists are subjective and I'm sure my pleasure is someone else's poison."
Pairc Ui Chaoimh is good compared to most GAA stadiums. But for a stadium redeveloped in the last 5/6 years its not great.
Compare it to Croke Park or Aviva? Ive worked in all these stadiums. Pairc Ui Chaoimh is miles off these.
Pearse Stadiums facilities are crap. Its location is crap. Its a terrible venue.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 18/04/2021 12:52:43    2337667

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Bear in mind too that the journalist who wrote the article regularly referred to the press boxes. He was certainly considering the grounds more so from the point of a journalist rather than from the point of view of either spectators or players. The list doesn't really refer to the facilities for players or spectators. I haven't been to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Nowlan Park or Markiewicz Park therefore I can't comment on those grounds. I've been to every other county ground in the country. He is disparaging of Pearse Stadium in Galway most particularly from the point of view of access and wind conditions. If you park your car on the Prom it's a ten to fifteen minute walk. The facilities are very good from the point of view of spectators and participants. Breffni Park is ranked highly yet it too is difficult to access and it's facilities for players don't compare with Pearse Stadium. He ranks Fitzgerald Stadium at number four. The stadium needs a fair bit of TLC. He cites the surrounding views as one of it's strong points. I'm fairly sure that most spectators are not too bothered about views when the game is on. All of these lists are subjective. My own personal favourite is the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. The facilities are very good for all concerned, it's reasonably good for access and parking and the atmosphere generated is terrific. As I said these lists are subjective and I'm sure my pleasure is someone else's poison."
Nowlan Park would be a favourite of mine followed by Tullamore.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 18/04/2021 12:53:24    2337668

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Replying To wexico15:  "I've the grounds I've been too i'd rate Newbridge the bottom, felt like a greyhound stadium more than a county ground, bear in mind ive been to Walsh Park but not Drogheda."
Things have got better wexico15 it took five post before we took a shot and moved up one from the bottom. Don't worry our beloved home will get its third face lift and the complaints will continue with some of the same inaccuracies. Did you know if you park at the bridge or on the quay you are closer to Walsh Park than if you parked in the square in Thurles to Semple Stadium.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3035 - 18/04/2021 14:53:02    2337690

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Replying To galwayford:  "Bear in mind that The Indo is not known as a supporter of GAA."
Indo has always been top class, paper for GAA coverage. You may not agree with their views, however it has more GAA Journalists both fulltime and part-time than the other two broadsheets. Your idea that it is somehow a rugby paper (whatever that means) is well off the mark. On any given day it gives equal coverage to all the main sports during their respective seasons.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2214 - 18/04/2021 15:27:04    2337695

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Greengrass mo chara. How is she cutting? I thought Drawda would be top of your list?"
All good Ollie. I hope all is well with you and yours. Turn the list upside down and Drawda would definitely be top. I'm laughing here at KillingFields describing the facilities at Pearse Stadium as being "crap". I think he needs to have a look at Donnybrook, Musgrave Park, The Sports Grounds and maybe even The RDS. Come to think of it Ollie do Leinster Rugby even own The RDS?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6178 - 18/04/2021 16:39:45    2337707

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Replying To wexico15:  "I've the grounds I've been too i'd rate Newbridge the bottom, felt like a greyhound stadium more than a county ground, bear in mind ive been to Walsh Park but not Drogheda."
Yeah Newbridge is an awful kip of a stadium. The whole thing needs to be levelled and rebuilt, sort out a new decent sized pitch too.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2305 - 18/04/2021 19:27:06    2337739

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Replying To Bon:  "Yeah Newbridge is an awful kip of a stadium. The whole thing needs to be levelled and rebuilt, sort out a new decent sized pitch too."
If they ever redeveloped or followed the louth model of building a new venue it could get plenty of neutral venue games like portlaoise and tullamore.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 18/04/2021 22:30:42    2337781

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Replying To Canuck:  "Things have got better wexico15 it took five post before we took a shot and moved up one from the bottom. Don't worry our beloved home will get its third face lift and the complaints will continue with some of the same inaccuracies. Did you know if you park at the bridge or on the quay you are closer to Walsh Park than if you parked in the square in Thurles to Semple Stadium."
I was there for Ballygunner and Patrickswell in November 2019, hope the proposed upgrade happens.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 18/04/2021 22:31:52    2337782

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It depends what you're after too. Clones is falling apart and not great for access, but the atmosphere is great and the craic in the town is the best you'll get anywhere.

As a ground, Celtic Park in Derry is lovely. Facilities for players wouldn't be the world class, mind you.

DL_Man (Donegal) - Posts: 145 - 19/04/2021 16:17:02    2337885

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that was the greatest load of rubbish i ever read, no mention of parking, wheelchair access [which is worse than bad in so many grounds, food availability , dressing rooms, i can go on and on, a total waste of ink

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2969 - 19/04/2021 16:58:25    2337891

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Replying To DL_Man:  "It depends what you're after too. Clones is falling apart and not great for access, but the atmosphere is great and the craic in the town is the best you'll get anywhere.

As a ground, Celtic Park in Derry is lovely. Facilities for players wouldn't be the world class, mind you."
Same with Tuam although they are improving facilities but the atmosphere there on big match days was epic.

Even though I was only young I remember been brought into the pubs before and after the game...the streets were heaving with people.

I remember being behind the goal in 99....Health and safety would have a heart attack looking at footage of that game. Some say there were 35,000 packed into Tuam that day. Great days for Connacht football.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11558 - 19/04/2021 17:59:22    2337898

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Having lived in England most of my life, I hardly ever get to see a inter county match in Nowlan Park. But as a young boy, born and bred a stones throw away, some of my earliest memories involve it. So on a lovely June summers evening, three years ago, on a trip home to visit my 85 year old mum we went to see Kilkenny v Wexford in the Leinster Championship. She hadn't been to a match since she was a young woman, haven't spent most of her adult life in England. It was a thrilling game, 0-7 - 1-11 to Wexford at half-time, 0-22 - 1-18 to Kilkenny at full-time. The crowd was about 18.000, families, teenagers, et al, with huge support from Wexford. It was a wonderful night, epitomising all that is good about the GAA. Sadly mum passed away last year, but the memories of that night will always stay with me.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2753 - 19/04/2021 20:15:39    2337917

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Having lived in England most of my life, I hardly ever get to see a inter county match in Nowlan Park. But as a young boy, born and bred a stones throw away, some of my earliest memories involve it. So on a lovely June summers evening, three years ago, on a trip home to visit my 85 year old mum we went to see Kilkenny v Wexford in the Leinster Championship. She hadn't been to a match since she was a young woman, haven't spent most of her adult life in England. It was a thrilling game, 0-7 - 1-11 to Wexford at half-time, 0-22 - 1-18 to Kilkenny at full-time. The crowd was about 18.000, families, teenagers, et al, with huge support from Wexford. It was a wonderful night, epitomising all that is good about the GAA. Sadly mum passed away last year, but the memories of that night will always stay with me."
Was at the game myself, tough defeat to take for ourselves but the place was electric that evening, condolences to your family.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 19/04/2021 21:39:52    2337937

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Replying To Greengrass:  "All good Ollie. I hope all is well with you and yours. Turn the list upside down and Drawda would definitely be top. I'm laughing here at KillingFields describing the facilities at Pearse Stadium as being "crap". I think he needs to have a look at Donnybrook, Musgrave Park, The Sports Grounds and maybe even The RDS. Come to think of it Ollie do Leinster Rugby even own The RDS?"
The facilities are poor in Pearse Stadium.
Donnybrook, Musgrave, Sportsgrounds even RDS are miles ahead of it.
Have you been in Musgrave ever? Well since its development few years back very good main stand all seater, modern seats no c**p benchs or concrete benches like some grounds. main terrace opposite that stand is completely covered.

Donnybrook is better as well. Very good modern stand.
Leinster dont own the RDS but are contributing considerably to its redevelopment
Sportsground isnt great for now but will be miles ahead of most GAA stadiums when its revamp is complete

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 19/04/2021 22:24:37    2337952

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