Markievicz Park to close for over a year
April 24, 2025
A view of Markievicz Park before the game ©INPHO
Markievicz Park will be out of use until the middle of 2026 due to essential pitch repair works.
The presence of Meadowgrass, which leads to issues with the condition of the playing surface, has left Sligo GAA with little option but to close the pitch while regeneration works take place. The planned works will include stripping off the worn-out surface to a depth of about 25mm, re-mixing the sand and soil layers, levelling, sanding, fertilising, and finally, reseeding with high-quality robust, modern ryegrass blend sports-turf. Once completed, the pitch will be rolled, mowed and maintained to ensure long-term durability and performance.
“Sligo GAA this week confirmed that its main ground at Markievicz Park is to close from the beginning of next week (April 28) to facilitate a significant regeneration of the playing surface,” a county board statement read.
“The decision to start this work now follows a thorough analysis and assessment carried out earlier this year by specialist expert advisors. This was undertaken due to the unstable condition of the pitch as seen in the early stages of this year’s national league.
“A detailed report of that assessment and recommendations for a programme of work to address the problems was presented to a meeting of all clubs in the county at the end of March.
“That meeting sanctioned the appointment of agronomist Eddie Connaughton – a specialist in the design and specification of sports turf – to act as an advisor.
“The first step in the project was to run a tender process to select a contractor to carry out the necessary work. Prunty Pitches of Newtownbutler in Co. Fermanagh, which is a leader in the provision of pitches in Ireland, won that tender and they will begin the work next week, shortly after completing the project to relay the pitch for Leitrim GAA at Avant Parc Sean MacDiarmada in Carrick on Shannon which reopened last weekend.”
The closure means that this year’s county finals and Sligo’s home games in next year’s Allianz League will be played at an alternative venue.
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