Walking up the hilly streets of Clones on a big match day is something every GAA fan should do at least once.
Hoardes of supporters pushing their way to the pitch as they go past the thronged pubs, the shouts the slagging and the flag waving.
I'm sure that people will feel a similar way about their provincial venues
but the narrow winding steep hilly streets of Clones create an experience that always takes your breath away
As you walk in from the Carpark or field or back garden, the locals open up their property and fair play to them make a few bob, and you approach the square(the Diamond) you first hear the cheers and the chants of young supporters getting off busses fathers mothers and kids all decked out in their County colours everyone smiling
then you go down the narrow streets that bring you up and down and then very steeply up to St Tiernach's park but as you embark on this walk you see the gael trooping in their thousands and it's a quare sight, when you get into the middle of it and are carried along, you can't go faster or slower you go at the crowd pace, you really feel part of this thing, this thing that is our sport only the very nervous or aprehensive(about the game) won't well up with pride.
You go up the final climb and then down the dusty entrance and you are there you look for the best vantage spot and you settle in for the game.

This preamble is part of the overall experience, it's not coreographied it just happens, magically, beautifully every time.


The walk back is similar but only if you have won

but that's another story and another unique experience (win or lose)

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 20/05/2010 17:38:26    653777

It really is a wonderfull expierence

Blue and Black (Monaghan) - Posts: 187 - 20/05/2010 17:53:55    653811

Aye the GAA is a quare organisation, Fair play to it. It means so much to me, Just reading that post gives me a deep sense of pride. Sure isn't that what the GAA is all about :)

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 20/05/2010 18:01:57    653827

nothing beats the Colour of Ulster Final day in Clones I hope whatever team's meet in this years decider that its played in Clones.

DynamoDooher (Tyrone) - Posts: 423 - 20/05/2010 18:24:29    653859

Making my first trip to Clones for the semi-final on 27th June. (Which I hope / assume will be at Clones??!) Not too worried about who ends up playing, just going along for the experience.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 21/05/2010 08:06:15    654118

I can remember as a young gason being taken to clones for Monaghan s games. it was always a magical day. And as I get older the magic grows even stronger. Clones is a grounds were colour & noise combinate to create excitement.
Im looking forward to a game there soon.

MuineachanAbu (Monaghan) - Posts: 660 - 21/05/2010 10:24:35    654193

I enjoyed that... well done

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 21/05/2010 10:31:16    654208

Well summed up,Clones on big match day is a great place to be.

orange and blue (Tyrone) - Posts: 1080 - 21/05/2010 10:33:28    654214

Done it twice in the last few year's with my club Birr hurling up there its a fair auld walk alright
not great when you had a good few points in p. geoghans pub and walk up to the game you would be only fit
to lie down on the terrace after it. like clones its a nice town hope Birr get back there again soon lucky ground never lost in it.

Birrgreat (Offaly) - Posts: 111 - 21/05/2010 10:34:16    654215

Ah. Clones Amaghs home ground

FairShoulder (Armagh) - Posts: 333 - 21/05/2010 10:44:29    654233

Well said Ochonlir. There really is something special about Ulster Final day in Clones. You have really captured the walk to St. Tiernach's Park. i am happy to have made the long journey to the border town many times.

Star Gazer (Tipperary) - Posts: 436 - 21/05/2010 11:11:37    654271

Remember Clones the last time Dublin were in the back door system, think we played Derry there, think it was 2002. Bright warm sunny day and pints outside some pub and plenty of craic and banter and good owl sing-song.....great spot for athmosphere.....

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 21/05/2010 11:38:06    654319

great post ochonlir, Clones is the best ground in the country for craic and atmosphere (Semple a close second). Can't believe Armagh county board chose casement instead of Clones for the Monaghan game, silly decision.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 21/05/2010 11:44:07    654327

Brings a tear to my eye...!

Omen (Monaghan) - Posts: 205 - 21/05/2010 12:11:16    654387

The alternative walk up to Clones.

Its raining as you struggle to find a parking space with your car.
Evertually some old swetty man charges you 10 Euro to throw the car in an overgrown garden.
You and a few of the lads get togged out for the trip. Rainjackets, sangwiches and snack bars are crammed into coat pockets.
Its about an hour before throw in, you decide to head into the neerest pub for 1 or 2. The drink is bad, and you are watching some young gasons (usually from Monaghan) getting sick on the side of the street.

Eventually you leave the pub, grab a burger from one of the many burger vans dispersed around the square. Your chagred 6 Euro for a rubbery auld lump of Brazilian Beef, but who cares.
Up the hill you go, struggling and almost out of breath when you reach the peak.
At the peak theres that old man there, the drunkard with the boron that makes some insult towards you. While all the women cross to teh far side of the street to avoid him.

At the turnstile your charged 20 quid in, before the customery trip to the jackjs inside the gate.
You settle in some poor vantage point, struggling to see the game.
Game is typical Ulster Football, pulling and dragging with little skill.

Afterwards, you spend hours in traffic jams around the village. Just wanting to go home to the wife.

Yours In Sport,
Joseff

joseff (Louth) - Posts: 964 - 21/05/2010 12:17:45    654397

Hail Rain or shine nothing beats Clones in Summer time,

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

could have been writing about Clones ! Tir Eoghain abú

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 21/05/2010 12:31:18    654425

it is some spot...............

Chester1970 (Armagh) - Posts: 509 - 21/05/2010 12:33:04    654429

Absolutely love the place. Last year having two games there (vs Cavan USF and Tyrone UF) will give me memories I will never forget, for different reasons I suppose. Have been to Clones countless times but it was just so much more special with my own county involved this time, really gave me a massive surge of pride. Yeah, it would be easier on me travelwise to move big games to Casement but I really can't stand the place, no atmosphere, too open, just can't nor will ever create the buzz Clones, or indeed Thurles, does on provincial finals day.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 21/05/2010 13:44:31    654513

Well now joseff, for the amounts of days out Louth gave their supporters you will not have to worry about it

MUINEACHAN ABU

MuineachanAbu (Monaghan) - Posts: 660 - 21/05/2010 14:18:22    654562

Joseff

I can't figure it out is it substance abuse

or do you consider it a pilgrimage, in the lough derg sense


I suppose different people percieve things differently

miserable is as miserable does

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 21/05/2010 14:18:38    654563