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I was working out recently how many County grounds I have been to over the years
Leinster 11/12 - never being to Drogheda Gaelic Ground
Munster 1/6 - only Semple stadium
Ulster 0/9
Connaught 0 /5
UK - being to McGovern Park
US - being to Gaelic Park New York
I am sure there are people out there that have a much better history than mine - I do intend improving on my record outside of Leinster
My favourites are
Dr Cullen Park - really great playing surface and good facilities - very well maintained - good cup of tea
Mc Govern Park Ruislip - really tidy ground - good stand and catering faciliites
Aughrim - new stand and setting
My least favourites
Pearse Pk - Longford - Tatty
Newbridge - needs levelling
Parnell Park - unkempt
Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 05/02/2020 11:08:44
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Replying To Blackbog: "I was working out recently how many County grounds I have been to over the years
Leinster 11/12 - never being to Drogheda Gaelic Ground
Munster 1/6 - only Semple stadium
Ulster 0/9
Connaught 0 /5
UK - being to McGovern Park
US - being to Gaelic Park New York
I am sure there are people out there that have a much better history than mine - I do intend improving on my record outside of Leinster
My favourites are
Dr Cullen Park - really great playing surface and good facilities - very well maintained - good cup of tea
Mc Govern Park Ruislip - really tidy ground - good stand and catering faciliites
Aughrim - new stand and setting
My least favourites
Pearse Pk - Longford - Tatty
Newbridge - needs levelling
Parnell Park - unkempt" Parnell Park is far from being one of the worst out there IMO.
The toilets on the terrace side of Dr. Hyde are a disgrace! Not much better on Clones terraces (although the whole day around a big game in Clones is fantastic).
Dr. Cullen is a nice ground alright. O'Connor park is fantastic too.
Croker and PuC obviously a good bit ahead of the rest.
Overall, a lot of significant improvements could be made at many county grounds without major investment (particularly when you see what is being spent on fielding county teams).
cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 05/02/2020 11:38:56
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Replying To Blackbog: "I was working out recently how many County grounds I have been to over the years
Leinster 11/12 - never being to Drogheda Gaelic Ground
Munster 1/6 - only Semple stadium
Ulster 0/9
Connaught 0 /5
UK - being to McGovern Park
US - being to Gaelic Park New York
I am sure there are people out there that have a much better history than mine - I do intend improving on my record outside of Leinster
My favourites are
Dr Cullen Park - really great playing surface and good facilities - very well maintained - good cup of tea
Mc Govern Park Ruislip - really tidy ground - good stand and catering faciliites
Aughrim - new stand and setting
My least favourites
Pearse Pk - Longford - Tatty
Newbridge - needs levelling
Parnell Park - unkempt" Leinster 5/12 Mullingar, Dublin, Portaoise, Navan, Longford
Munster 1/6 - Cork
Ulster 8/9 never been to Casement or any Antrim county ground. Been to numerous county grounds in Donegal, Armagh, Tyrone, and Derry.
Connacht 5/5 been to all the major county grounds, and Jarlath's in Tuam on top of that.
UK - been to McGovern Park on Championship Sunday.
Faves - all the northern grounds are friendly, good gaels running the grounds and volunteering about. McGovern Park in Ruislip a good spot for a few drinks during and after a match as well.
Least favourite - McHale Park, can't fault the stadium, but the traffic is an absolute shambles. Nothing like it in the country from my experience.
SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 373 - 05/02/2020 11:56:58
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Bring to all at least once ,
Although I was never in Clonmel , some have improved like Aughrim , some are poor like Drogheda and Navan and are being addressed , Dunsilly is a joke ,
Cusack Park and Dr Cullen Park - awful changing facilities,
Omagh - great changing facilities,
Clones dated - but memorable, Breffni - real history when you walk into their facilities, all the Cavan greats up on the walls inside the changing room ,
Bray is another which needs attention,
Celtic Park Derry needs refurbishment, while closer to home can't fault Crossmaglen or the AG.
Probably without doubt Croke Park , suppose I've been lucky enough to have been their a few times, great experiences - facilities, bus journey into the stadium .
Pairc Esler is also good , but Ballycran is very poor for a county ground.
Garvaghy is a good set up - but Jesus it's always cold there, a bit like Inniskeen - cold changing rooms , but fair play a fantastic setup for a small village and one of the best playing surfaces in the country!!
Carrickmore with its Nally stand!!!
Another interesting venue is Pearse Park Longford, you drive by it not realising that the main entrance is really through an estate !!!!
Tuam stadium need a bit of tlc,
Donegal has a good venues too
cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1671 - 05/02/2020 12:29:04
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Munster 5/6
-Pairc Ui Chaoimh
-Semple Stadium
-Gaelic Grounds
-Fitzgerald Stadium
-Cusack Park
Also been to Pairc Ui Rinn if u want to count it
Leinster 2/12
-Croke Park
-O Moore Park, Portloaise
Ulster 0
Connaught 0
I must start traveling more
DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 05/02/2020 15:02:58
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Dunsilly isn't a County ground though. It is the County's training facilities.
Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 05/02/2020 15:20:01
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Replying To SurelyToGod: "Leinster 5/12 Mullingar, Dublin, Portaoise, Navan, Longford
Munster 1/6 - Cork
Ulster 8/9 never been to Casement or any Antrim county ground. Been to numerous county grounds in Donegal, Armagh, Tyrone, and Derry.
Connacht 5/5 been to all the major county grounds, and Jarlath's in Tuam on top of that.
UK - been to McGovern Park on Championship Sunday.
Faves - all the northern grounds are friendly, good gaels running the grounds and volunteering about. McGovern Park in Ruislip a good spot for a few drinks during and after a match as well.
Least favourite - McHale Park, can't fault the stadium, but the traffic is an absolute shambles. Nothing like it in the country from my experience." Jesus if you think McHale is bad you have not been to Salthill lately. McHale is a god send in comparison.
sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1143 - 05/02/2020 15:30:38
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Munster 5/6
-Pairc Ui Chaoimh (pre renovation)
-Semple Stadium
-Gaelic Grounds
-Fitzgerald Stadium
-Cusack Park
And a few others like Kilmallock and some of the bigger club grounds.
Leinster 5/12
-Croke Park
-Wexford Park
- O ' Moore Park
- O ' Connor Park
- Nowlan Park
Ulster 1/9
-Casement Park
Also been to O'Raghallaigh Park, Cavan which may have Ireland's oddest looking terrace.
Connaught 2/5
- Pearse Stadium
- Machale Park
Hard to pick a best or worst as almost all GAA stadiums follow the same pattern of good or average main stand and bare bones terraces but a few that stand out are Nowlan which is a great size and build for league and Mayo which has those useless stone seats all around what should be terraces
Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 05/02/2020 15:47:17
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Replying To sourmilk93: "Jesus if you think McHale is bad you have not been to Salthill lately. McHale is a god send in comparison." Ya know what i'll give you that, but that's Galway City traffic congestion in general. Try driving past those schools down that direction anytime between 2pm and 4pm.
The traffic on the way down for the Super 8s game was the worst i'd ever seen. Did 5km in one hour at one stage.
SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 373 - 05/02/2020 15:52:31
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Replying To Blackbog: "I was working out recently how many County grounds I have been to over the years
Leinster 11/12 - never being to Drogheda Gaelic Ground
Munster 1/6 - only Semple stadium
Ulster 0/9
Connaught 0 /5
UK - being to McGovern Park
US - being to Gaelic Park New York
I am sure there are people out there that have a much better history than mine - I do intend improving on my record outside of Leinster
My favourites are
Dr Cullen Park - really great playing surface and good facilities - very well maintained - good cup of tea
Mc Govern Park Ruislip - really tidy ground - good stand and catering faciliites
Aughrim - new stand and setting
My least favourites
Pearse Pk - Longford - Tatty
Newbridge - needs levelling
Parnell Park - unkempt" I think your Bias is coming out a little bit too strongly in that post! Been to plenty of games in Parnell Park and its actually one of the nicer grounds around. Good facilities, its size is perfect to generate an atmosphere when near capacity.
Can i ask how you mean that Pearse Park in my own Longford is Tatty? Not shooting you down i just dont know how you came to that conclusion about it? Litterwise, facilities, the stadium, layout, pitch?
LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 05/02/2020 16:59:34
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Connacht
-Hyde Park
-McHale Park
-Salthill
-Pairc Sean
-Markievicz Park
-Tuam Stadium
Ulster
-Ballybofey
-Breffni Park
-Crossmaglen
-Brewster Park
-St Tiernachs Park
Leinster
-Croke Park
-Parnell Park
-Pearse Park
-O Connor Park
-Cusack Park
-Wexford Park
-Pairc Tailteann
-O Moore Park
Munster
-Gaelic Grounds
-Fitzgerald Stadium
-Semple Stadium
-Cusack Park
Will be able to add Newbridge to the list in a few weeks! Least favorite is Salthill, traffic is a disaster and it's always been pouring rain when ive been! Our own ground is so out of date with facilities but there is planning approval for a lot of work to be carried out to hopefully bring it up to standard.
Favorite ground would probably be Semple Stadium. Brilliant atmosphere and the history of the place makes it a special venue I think.
Douglas_44 (Roscommon) - Posts: 225 - 05/02/2020 17:31:00
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Over the years I've been to the following county grounds:
Ulster: Pairc Esler, Clones, Brewster Park and Breffni
Munster: Walsh Park, Pairc Ui Chaoimh (older stadium), Fitzgerald Stadium, Cusack Park, Limerick and Semple
Leinster: Drogheda, Navan, Croke Park (and Parnell), Aughrim, Wexford Park, Cusack Park, Pearse Park, O'Connor Park, Portlaoise. Newbridge and Nowlan Park.
Connacht: Pearse Stadium (and Tuam), McHale Park, Markievich Park and Hyde.
It's quite a while since I've been to some of the above so I won't say anything negative about any of them as they may have improved since. My favourites are Croke Park, Semple Stadium, O'Connor Park and Cusack Park (Ennis) where there is always a great atmosphere.
midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 541 - 05/02/2020 17:56:53
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Replying To Douglas_44: "Connacht
-Hyde Park
-McHale Park
-Salthill
-Pairc Sean
-Markievicz Park
-Tuam Stadium
Ulster
-Ballybofey
-Breffni Park
-Crossmaglen
-Brewster Park
-St Tiernachs Park
Leinster
-Croke Park
-Parnell Park
-Pearse Park
-O Connor Park
-Cusack Park
-Wexford Park
-Pairc Tailteann
-O Moore Park
Munster
-Gaelic Grounds
-Fitzgerald Stadium
-Semple Stadium
-Cusack Park
Will be able to add Newbridge to the list in a few weeks! Least favorite is Salthill, traffic is a disaster and it's always been pouring rain when ive been! Our own ground is so out of date with facilities but there is planning approval for a lot of work to be carried out to hopefully bring it up to standard.
Favorite ground would probably be Semple Stadium. Brilliant atmosphere and the history of the place makes it a special venue I think." I believe you are in the lead with 20 county grounds and soon to be 21.
Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 05/02/2020 18:05:36
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Ulster
Breffni
Clones
Blayney
Casement
Newry
Athletic Grounds
Brewster
Leinster
Croker
Parnell Park
Navan
Mullingar
Portlaoise
Tullamore
Nowlan Park (for a gig!)
Connacht
Hyde
Munster
PuC
Thurles
Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12115 - 05/02/2020 18:45:44
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Replying To midlands: "Over the years I've been to the following county grounds:
Ulster: Pairc Esler, Clones, Brewster Park and Breffni
Munster: Walsh Park, Pairc Ui Chaoimh (older stadium), Fitzgerald Stadium, Cusack Park, Limerick and Semple
Leinster: Drogheda, Navan, Croke Park (and Parnell), Aughrim, Wexford Park, Cusack Park, Pearse Park, O'Connor Park, Portlaoise. Newbridge and Nowlan Park.
Connacht: Pearse Stadium (and Tuam), McHale Park, Markievich Park and Hyde.
It's quite a while since I've been to some of the above so I won't say anything negative about any of them as they may have improved since. My favourites are Croke Park, Semple Stadium, O'Connor Park and Cusack Park (Ennis) where there is always a great atmosphere." I don't get the love for Semple . I think it's a misshaped patchwork mess with shocking facilities in the terraces ya it's fun when full but so are all GAA stadiums.
Also forgot to add McGovern Park to my list
Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 05/02/2020 19:08:35
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Leinster 10 /12 (not been to Louth or Wicklow county grounds)
Munster 5/6 (never been to Fitzgerald Stadium
Connacht 3/5 (not been to Sligo or Leitrim grounds)
Ulster: 0/9. Since I'm a hurling man primarily I reckon it will stay at 0/9 unless I go to see an Antrim club final some day!
Favourite ground: O'Connor Park Tullamore.
Least favourite: probably my own county ground Pearse Stadium Salthill. Apart from the traffic it is nearly always windy there which can affect the quality of the game being played.
PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 05/02/2020 20:41:36
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Replying To LongfordSham: "I think your Bias is coming out a little bit too strongly in that post! Been to plenty of games in Parnell Park and its actually one of the nicer grounds around. Good facilities, its size is perfect to generate an atmosphere when near capacity.
Can i ask how you mean that Pearse Park in my own Longford is Tatty? Not shooting you down i just dont know how you came to that conclusion about it? Litterwise, facilities, the stadium, layout, pitch?" I'm not sure what state it's in now or was in before, but my only visit to Pearse Park was in 2018 and a good chunk of it was fenced off and growing weeds. I know that's from circumstances beyond your control, but could possibly explain his views.
CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 05/02/2020 22:11:52
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Ulster 9/9. That includes Casement for Antrim, not their current field. Not only attended, but I've played all 9 main county grounds as well. If we include other nominated county grounds like Kingscourt and Ballyconnell in Cavan, 'Blaney and Inniskeen in Monaghan, and Owenbeg in Derry, I've played and attended those too...
Connacht 5/5. Attended all main ones, with Tuam as well as Salthill for Galway. Have played Markiewicz and Pairc Sean Mac Dairmada
Leinster 9/12. Attended Parnell Park as well as Croker in Dublin. Haven't attended any Carlow, Kilkenny, or Wexford grounds. Played Pearse Park
Munster 4/6. Both Cork grounds, but not at Pairc Ui Caoimh since it was done up. Haven't attended any Kerry or Waterford ground
Outside Ireland 0/2. Haven't attended Ruislip or New York
Missing a few, really should have some of these done such as Kerry, but we've had them at home recently. The way Cavan goes up and down divisions, it's not hard to come up against most counties over the years, I should finish all the main ones in the future
Been at many a poor ground, but worst for me is the Hyde, not a nice stadium or ground, facilities are terrible, and never had much luck there in recent years. Healy Park Omagh pitch always seems to waterlog on a wet day, and its always wet there. Aughrim is grim to drive to and even grimmer to be at. Always liked Pairc Esler in Newry, lovely place for a game. The old Casement pitch was unreal, all the more pity what has happened to it.
Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2379 - 06/02/2020 09:48:16
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Ulster 9/9
Leinster 5/12
Munster 1/6
Connacht 3/5
The way the qualifiers are going, it's unlikely I'll build on that list anytime soon unless I attend a few hurling matches as a neutral.
OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 06/02/2020 11:17:27
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Replying To CastleBravo: "I'm not sure what state it's in now or was in before, but my only visit to Pearse Park was in 2018 and a good chunk of it was fenced off and growing weeds. I know that's from circumstances beyond your control, but could possibly explain his views." Possibly could be down to something like that. Unfortunately due to a shambles of a situation by our CB we were left with only the terracing on one side of the ground to use for a number of years resulting from structural damage tot he Stands.
Since fixed and all sides are now open and looking lovely if id o say so. Re-seated the whole stand on one side and two other sides are fully terraced, with a small gravel embankment behind the goals in one end, rarely used unless for a big game. The pitch is always in good nick and the location is great as parking on the bypass makes for easy access to and from. Toilets arnt the worst ive seen but could do with a bit of an upgrade like so many other stadiums.
Lots of similar issues in many county grounds across the country but other than a few select ground that will get many regular games with good crowd sizes, i can see a CB decision not to invest heavily in these areas. I for one am happy with my own county ground in its current state and would rather see CB direct the funds to games and team costs including further development. Having a white elephant of a stadium and ground is grand if there is going to be large crowd utilising it every other week similar to Soccer and rugby but unfortunately this is very rarely the case in many County Grounds.
LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 06/02/2020 13:40:16
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