National Forum

Best and worst grounds

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With today seeing the newly developed Pairc ui Chaoimh holding an inter-county match for the first time, I was wondering which provincial grounds does anyone think are the best, and which ones are awful. I'm expecting to see Drogheda listed a few times.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 22/07/2017 10:22:13    2020802

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Replying To PK57:  "With today seeing the newly developed Pairc ui Chaoimh holding an inter-county match for the first time, I was wondering which provincial grounds does anyone think are the best, and which ones are awful. I'm expecting to see Drogheda listed a few times."
Ah PK? How is she cutting? Long time no hear. My fav ground after HQ is Semple. I was in it a few times and it is some set up. Drogheda hands down is the worse county ground in this country.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 22/07/2017 10:45:23    2020811

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Replying To PK57:  "With today seeing the newly developed Pairc ui Chaoimh holding an inter-county match for the first time, I was wondering which provincial grounds does anyone think are the best, and which ones are awful. I'm expecting to see Drogheda listed a few times."
Best Fitzgerald Stadium

Worst: By far and away it was the old PUC but having undergone its 80 million face list, I'd have to say the worst ground now that I've been to would be a toss up between Newbridge or Pairc Tailteann

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 22/07/2017 10:49:44    2020814

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Breffni Pk I'd say.

Don't get me wrong the stands and structure of the whole place is sound..

But get a swirling wind in the place and it'll be a festival of wild wides.

Cankylunt (Dublin) - Posts: 30 - 22/07/2017 10:59:50    2020822

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Replying To PK57:  "With today seeing the newly developed Pairc ui Chaoimh holding an inter-county match for the first time, I was wondering which provincial grounds does anyone think are the best, and which ones are awful. I'm expecting to see Drogheda listed a few times."
There is one thing that I can say about Paric Ui Chaiomh it must be one of the hardest grounds to get to it is in a cul de sac

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 697 - 22/07/2017 11:29:12    2020831

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The heading may be a bit confusing-I assume that the ground includes both pitch and facilities. On The Hermits comment!! PT playing surface is as good as any in the country and carried out by the same field construction people (Prunty who would be considered the best) as carried out the Killarney, Cavan and Navan and numerous other county and centre of excellence grounds (pitch). It is easy to have good facilities when central council pumps millions of euros into facilities.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 22/07/2017 11:30:30    2020834

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The pitch in Cusack Park (Mullingar) is top quality, but the stand leaves a lot to be desired. Especially on a wet day, you should make sure to bring a bag or something to sit on.

iarmhi_an_mhaith (Westmeath) - Posts: 268 - 22/07/2017 11:48:45    2020845

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has to be Antrim's 'acting' home venue, Corrigan Park. Was home to county games way back in the 40s and 50s but at least it had a stand back then. all it has now is grass banks and a fantastic view of the Ballymurphy estate. I despair if Casement falls through!

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 22/07/2017 12:26:56    2020857

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There is only one winner here and its Drogheda co Louth. Stand if you'd call it that is shambles and the pitch is like the hills of Donegal

GAAdundalk (Louth) - Posts: 641 - 22/07/2017 15:34:49    2020936

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Replying To browncows:  "The heading may be a bit confusing-I assume that the ground includes both pitch and facilities. On The Hermits comment!! PT playing surface is as good as any in the country and carried out by the same field construction people (Prunty who would be considered the best) as carried out the Killarney, Cavan and Navan and numerous other county and centre of excellence grounds (pitch). It is easy to have good facilities when central council pumps millions of euros into facilities."
No need to be so defensive, I'm talking from a spectators point of view not the pitch, and I was shocked the first time I there to see such a traditionally big football county have so basic a ground.

And less of the poor mouth stuff, are you seriously suggesting there's more money and wealth in Kerry than Meath? Look at the land ye have and yer massive popuation who can all commute to them nice office jobs in Dublin. It's mad ye never got around to building a decent ground when you consider what Offalys and Longford managed with theres.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 22/07/2017 15:44:04    2020944

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Walsh Park Waterford. The worst pitch in Ireland and gravel terraces...Its built on a bog

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 22/07/2017 15:46:24    2020948

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Replying To bloodyban:  "Walsh Park Waterford. The worst pitch in Ireland and gravel terraces...Its built on a bog"
Gravel terraces, for the life of me I cant understand how H&S let that go, I know we have nothing to brag about in Navan (yet) but I'd rather slip on my arse on a grass bank than a gravel one......

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 22/07/2017 16:37:04    2020977

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Replying To TheHermit:  "Best Fitzgerald Stadium

Worst: By far and away it was the old PUC but having undergone its 80 million face list, I'd have to say the worst ground now that I've been to would be a toss up between Newbridge or Pairc Tailteann"
Fitzgerald Stadium is a joke - no lights, no clock, an old scoreboard that is frequently displaying the wrong digits and poor toilets, to name but a few things.

SecretsOfFatima (Kerry) - Posts: 63 - 22/07/2017 17:39:55    2020996

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Tullamore is a fantastic ground. Croker obviously the best.
In terms of the whole build up to a game, Clones is excellent - you basically pub crawl your way to the stadium!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 22/07/2017 18:14:21    2021012

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While St. Conleth's Park has poor facilities and inadaquate dressing rooms, the pitch has always been regarded as excellent. This was confirmed recently when it came second place to Thurles in the inaugural best pitch catagory recently. St Conleth's also recently was granted planning permission for a major upgrade to take places over two phases to include a new all seater Stand and widening of the pitch, new dressingrooms and Clubhouse. Pairc Tailteann is in the early stages of applying for re development, with the Meath County board begining the process of undergoing a consultancy report.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2989 - 22/07/2017 18:22:16    2021016

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Replying To SecretsOfFatima:  "Fitzgerald Stadium is a joke - no lights, no clock, an old scoreboard that is frequently displaying the wrong digits and poor toilets, to name but a few things."
Do Kerry alternate their home League games between Tralee and Fitzgerald Stadium,SecretsOfFatima? I didn't realise that Fitzgerald Stadium had no lights. SO Kerry play under lights in Tralee on Saturday nights and in Killarney on Sunday afternoons?

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2989 - 22/07/2017 18:27:05    2021019

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Navan is very poor but Cusack Park in Mullingar is worse

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1671 - 22/07/2017 18:57:51    2021036

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Replying To lilywhite1:  "Do Kerry alternate their home League games between Tralee and Fitzgerald Stadium,SecretsOfFatima? I didn't realise that Fitzgerald Stadium had no lights. SO Kerry play under lights in Tralee on Saturday nights and in Killarney on Sunday afternoons?"
That appears to be it, yeah. I know that the Kerry v Dublin game in Division 1 this year was in Tralee due to lights, I believe.

SecretsOfFatima (Kerry) - Posts: 63 - 22/07/2017 20:36:02    2021117

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i know its a bit off subject. Why couldn't sky erect the tv camera at the opposite side of paric i chaoimh and showcase the 2 tier stand? It looked and felt like the old stadium.
will rte do the same tomorrow ?

Live_Wire (Monaghan) - Posts: 40 - 22/07/2017 22:01:01    2021216

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I was really impressed with Pairc ui Caoimbh today. Its Croke Park standard inside and out but really contains the atmosphere. Pity about the location.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 22/07/2017 22:52:33    2021271

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