What a load of rubbish. If John Hughes as he claims had to walk one mile to get into Clones I am sure he would as I did notice the posters stating that there was 35% allowance on sterling. The "Hawkers" selling ice cream within the ground are nearly all members of Clones club and the proceeds go towards the running of the club. Was at the Donegal/Derry game and had an absolute perfect view of the game from the hill.Yes toilets do need to be upgraded but they are no worse than any I have had the pleasure of frequenting in any other ground bar Croke Park.I for one hope that Casement as is proposed never gets built as I have not heard from the Ulster Council How they propose to make up the revenue shortfall that such a move would involve [gate receipts in the north are subject to VAT and as such a stadium there would have to have a capacity of circa 45,000 to generate the same revenue]. While I have spent a lot of time in Andytown down the years I don't think the atmosphere would come anywhere close to that of Clones on Ulster Final day.The last game I was at in Casement I had a pint or two in the Felons club close to the pitch and the locals I was talking to were more interested in an upcoming friendly between Glasgow Celtic and Dundalk.Just to answer a couple of posters the pub count in Clones has gone down from 23 in the early eighties to 12 at present and the bit of Monaghan surrounded by Fermanagh is known as the Connons which local legend maintains was won in a bet between the McMahons from Monaghan and the Maguires of Fermanagh

clonfad (Fermanagh) - Posts: 11 - 30/07/2015 16:45:11    1761321

When Monaghan stop playing GAA sports that's when it'll close and no sooner

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 30/07/2015 16:57:36    1761327

A mid Ulster option would be the most sensible, meaning very few people within Ulster would face much more than an hours travel.

Casement Park was overpriced, especially when you consider what Mayo did with €20 Million in McHale Park ( Equivalent of £14 million stg at todays exchange rate ). McHale Park has everything a Provincial GAA ground should have, a superb example to the rest of us.

Why spend £70 million, when £30 million would probably build a superb Provincial Stadium.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/07/2015 17:18:40    1761336

haha antrim looking for it in casement..they wont have to worry about ulster final day for a while..

detruth - have you been living in a cave?

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 30/07/2015 17:23:25    1761339

especially when you consider what Mayo did with €20 Million in McHale Park ( Equivalent of £14 million stg at todays exchange rate ). McHale Park has everything a Provincial GAA ground should have, a superb example to the rest of us.

GaryMc - is this the same McHale Park you are talking about which I have been in a good number of times and as recent as a few months back? Superb example - seriously?

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 30/07/2015 17:27:25    1761340

Yes, Clones does need a revamp but it wouldn't cost a fortune.

Parking is fine & the atmosphere at the bottom of the town is great.

Long live Clones!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 30/07/2015 17:56:24    1761355

Always loved Clones, From back in the day when we as a group of Lads went for a few beers right up to present day when its a family day out. The prematch picnic in the field and then plodding through Cow Sh*te before making the walk to the grounds. Wee buns to country folk.

I can see where Townies or City people would prefer tarmac and the like in Casement' no Cow sh8te to plodd through.

Like Muckross said, Long live Clones I say.

Ps that Said' I think the time Should Come that all Provincal Finals Should be played at HQ' if Qualifiers are getting Staged there then I dont think many would object to provincal finals being played there' Im sure there would be bigger crowds that would make the trek to Croker on a final day than would they to a Qualifier. If not Clones then i for one would rather make the trip to Croker.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 30/07/2015 18:50:24    1761386

Close Clones and then what? Casement hasn't been approved and looks like it won't go ahead. They have permission as far as I know for a 25,000 capacity stadium, which is far too small. And the time is running out, they have to hand back the grant soon if it's not spent. We'll be using Clones for a long time yet.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 30/07/2015 19:50:50    1761405

30/07/2015 13:42:04
opa01
County: Cavan
Posts: 326

1761206
http://gaeliclife.com/2015/07/opening-shot-please-close-clones/?fb_ref=Default

Have to say I agree with this. Never understood how some fans like going to Clones. Hours queuing to get in and out, parking in a field, getting ripped off at every opportunity, seating out of the dark ages.

If Casement doesn't happen a serious upgrade of Clones is long past due. If the traffic and parking problems could be resolved it would make a great site for a stadium.


Firstly you say you want Clones closed now,then you finish with if Belfast doesnt go ahead which it will,you would be ok with Clones as long as there was parking sorted out.

Seating out of the dark ages you say???????????? Have you been in Breffni Park lately,it has the same seating as Clones only less of it,and at least Clones has a full lenght covered stand,Breffni only covers the hob-nobs in the centre of the stand,and parking around Breffni is just as bad if not worse as you have to walk on a busy by-pass road miles from the ground!

Casement will go ahead the GAA are not gonna turn the British Goverment funding money down,Clones will not get the revamp it needs because Clones is in the Republic and the Ulster Council havent the funds for that.

Clones is the best grounds outside of Croke Park and the day it closes will be the death of Ulster Final day for the Province!

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 30/07/2015 20:02:01    1761411

Love Clones.
Great memories and great craic before the games too.
The home of the Ulster Final.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 30/07/2015 20:10:09    1761413

Cavan_Slasher
County: Cavan
Posts: 9801

1761413
Love Clones.
Great memories and great craic before the games too.
The home of the Ulster Final.

Not that we'd ever have reason to go there Slasher ;)

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 30/07/2015 21:11:02    1761459

close clones and then what?...move to that joke of a location in west belfast...the longer it takes for that white elephant to be built the better where the locals are more interssted in soccer clubs from the north west of england

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 30/07/2015 21:46:55    1761488

Just checked my crystal ball and yep, as I suspected, Casement redevelopment is going ahead and it will host Ulster Finals. That is the end of the debate anyway.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 31/07/2015 08:16:23    1761501

close clones and then what?...move to that joke of a location in west belfast...the longer it takes for that white elephant to be built the better where the locals are more interssted in soccer clubs from the north west of england

A clear evidence based comment this.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 31/07/2015 08:18:38    1761503

McHale Park has everything a Provincial GAA ground should have, a superb example to the rest of us.

Seriously? An over sized stand with pillars in the 21st century and the rest of the ground uncovered concrete slabs masquerading as seats!
And almost bankrupt Mayo GAA.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 31/07/2015 08:43:52    1761507

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 6670

1761269 Just looking at a map there and there appears to be a bit of Monagahan by where the only way you canget into into is through Northern Ireland on all sides bar a narrow bit connecting to the republic but a river goes across it. Anybody know anything about that little area? Must have been not so fun for the residents back in the day.
----------------------------------------------------
It's also known as "the wee republic" ,even though withing the republic you cant exit it by road without going throught Norther Ireland.
It's part of the Currin club (Dick Clerkin and Jack McCarron's club).

bladecx (Monaghan) - Posts: 147 - 31/07/2015 09:08:37    1761521

Naysayer
County: Antrim
Posts: 1488

1761503 close clones and then what?...move to that joke of a location in west belfast...the longer it takes for that white elephant to be built the better where the locals are more interssted in soccer clubs from the north west of england

Yeah and of course all the soccer supporters that are glued to Sky tv or cross the water every weekend reside in west belfast!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 31/07/2015 10:31:38    1761567

hardcore
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1095
Have to say I agree with this. Never understood how some fans like going to Clones. Hours queuing to get in and out, parking in a field, getting ripped off at every opportunity, seating out of the dark ages.

If Casement doesn't happen a serious upgrade of Clones is long past due. If the traffic and parking problems could be resolved it would make a great site for a stadium.
Firstly you say you want Clones closed now,then you finish with if Belfast doesnt go ahead which it will,you would be ok with Clones as long as there was parking sorted out.

Seating out of the dark ages you say???????????? Have you been in Breffni Park lately,it has the same seating as Clones only less of it,and at least Clones has a full lenght covered stand,Breffni only covers the hob-nobs in the centre of the stand,and parking around Breffni is just as bad if not worse as you have to walk on a busy by-pass road miles from the ground!

Casement will go ahead the GAA are not gonna turn the British Goverment funding money down,Clones will not get the revamp it needs because Clones is in the Republic and the Ulster Council havent the funds for that.

Clones is the best grounds outside of Croke Park and the day it closes will be the death of Ulster Final day for the Province!

I think you'll find I said if parking & traffic was sorted Clones would make a great site for a stadium - the ground is fine but the facilities are in a desperate need of updating. I was in Breffni a couple of weeks ago and find the facilities there well ahead of Clones. Parking has never been a problem for me but I do know the roads around there well. The downside for Breffni is the capacity.

I agree with other posters that there are some good memories of finals in Clones but these memories were to do with games and results rather than the location. What's needed is a modern mid-Ulster stadium with good accessibility, good facilities and I'm sure there will soon be great memories from there.

But I do think the AI Championship needs a revamp to make the structure fairer with 4 groups of 8 and the result of that may make the provincial championships less relevant so an Ulster final may fall down the pecking order.

opa01 (Cavan) - Posts: 503 - 31/07/2015 10:54:23    1761578

Have to agree that Clones is in serious need of upgrading especially toilets,floodlights, needs ball catcher at each end, very dangerous sitting there during pre match warm ups especially, you wouldnt want to be goofing as you could get a belt of a ball in the gob !!
Was in Breffini Kingspan park for the two Monagham games, very impressive venue with excellent playing surface also. Love getting to Clones early and going up the hill near the church and looking back at the sea of colour, you cant bate it !!. Casement Park bit far off radar for most Ulster folk .Omagh ground also very nice venue, but dificultto get in/out of methinks.

barroboys (Louth) - Posts: 97 - 31/07/2015 11:22:51    1761592

Casement Park bit far off radar for most Ulster folk

barroboys - it's actually not. If you just pick up a map and look where Belfast is then yes you would assume that it's not central enough but way back last year on one of the many topics on Casement I gave travelling times from the Central point of each County to Clones, Casement and a couple of other places that were being thrown in the mix - using the same internet site to calculate travel times. Casement was actually comparable or quicker to get to than Clones for most parts of Ulster and that was a normal journey. Factor in match day crowds/traffic and Casement comes in to it's own as it is accessed from Motorways - M1 from South and SW, M2 from the North and NW.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 31/07/2015 11:43:51    1761606