Outside of Croke Park, what do people think are the best and worst stadia for watching Gaelic games?

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 17/12/2009 07:33:51    516237

Best: (In no particular Order)
Clones
Wexford Park
Thurles
Limerick
Portlaoise
Castlebar
Breffni Park
Tullamore

Worst: (Again in no order)
Newbridge
Drogheda
Mullingar
Markevicz Park
Ballybofey
Aughrim

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 17/12/2009 10:40:37    516297

Pairc Ui Chaoimh must be the pits even though only completed as late as 1976. From the start there have been problems with it.

Tubs.of.ices (UK) - Posts: 33 - 17/12/2009 11:47:36    516346

Aughrim is pretty bad. (But we love it) Getting new stands soon too.

WicklowLegends (Wicklow) - Posts: 33 - 17/12/2009 11:50:41    516355

ya pairc ui caoimhe looking fairly shabby these days alrite

09KY36 (Kerry) - Posts: 329 - 17/12/2009 11:57:34    516361

Jinxie...

What makes Portlaoise such a good ground? Im from Donegal and live in Laois and have to say Ballybofey of far from the worst ground.... i think Navan is closer up that list,, doesnt it still have a grass bank?

As for Portlaoise there is no parking at the ground at all and the nearest car park is ten minutes away although i do admit Ballybofey is terrible logistically as well... thr ground itself isnt that bad, they have just installed new seating in the stand.

argael (Donegal) - Posts: 133 - 17/12/2009 12:00:25    516365

Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a disaster.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 17/12/2009 12:01:57    516369

Lots of poor county grounds in ireland with Drogheda being up at the top. However, some grounds believe that they are super stadia on the basis that they have a covered seating area with plastic seats!!!

yet the rest of the ground is covered with 1950s communist era concrete (with all of that quality) and H&S nightmare grass bank areas for fans - so not much better than Drogheda in reality. Probably have better toilets but that's about it...

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 17/12/2009 12:57:49    516424

Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney looked stupid with a half finished stand behind the goals before but it a decent stadium now that it's finished.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1135 - 17/12/2009 13:17:21    516440

best undoubtely is thurles

lowerormond (Tipperary) - Posts: 1267 - 17/12/2009 13:18:52    516443

Casement Abú

Saffron1916 (Antrim) - Posts: 30 - 17/12/2009 13:29:51    516450

BEST
McHale (when finished)
Celtic Park (Doire)
Healy Park (Tir Eoghan)
Semple (Tipp)
Pearse Stadium (Gaillimh)
Parnell Park (Atha Cliath)
O'Moore Park (Laois)
WORST
Ballyshannon (Donegal)
Newbridge (Kildare)
Drogheda (Louth)
Walsh Park (Waterford)

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 17/12/2009 13:46:54    516465

argael
County: Donegal
Posts: 38

516365 Jinxie...

What makes Portlaoise such a good ground? Im from Donegal and live in Laois and have to say Ballybofey of far from the worst ground.... i think Navan is closer up that list,, doesnt it still have a grass bank?

As for Portlaoise there is no parking at the ground at all and the nearest car park is ten minutes away although i do admit Ballybofey is terrible logistically as well... thr ground itself isnt that bad, they have just installed new seating in the stand.

Touchy Touchy.
Wind your neck back in their for a minute! You slated Portlaoise for its parking, & then try & praise ballybofey? Ive been to plenty of matches in ballybofey & the parking is a joke. The grounds are totally dated.

Portlaoise is in superb condition & has a great playing surface & the lights are among the best in the country. Theres a big stand with new seating, new refurbished Turnstiles & entrances which helps cut down some of the ques that were there.

As for Pairc Tailtean being worse than Ballybofey? Thats your opinion. It is certainly not up with the best grounds in the country, ill admit that, but it has one of the best surfaces in the country & holds up to 30,000 & has a superb athmosphere on championship days. On a blistering hot day for a championship game those grass banks are perfect!

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 17/12/2009 13:56:38    516476

Walsh Park is a shocker. And the pitch is worse.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 17/12/2009 14:23:01    516500

Best (also in no particular order)

Nowlan Pk
O'Moore Pk
Wexford Pk
Semple Stadium

Worst
Fraher Field (Dungarvan)
Parnell Pk
Walsh Pk (Waaterford City)
Dr Cullen Pk

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 17/12/2009 14:37:01    516508

Newbridge and Dr Cullen are fairly poor. Tullamore isnt bad, the new part is decent enough. O moore Park is a great ground I think.

JPM1981 (Kildare) - Posts: 825 - 17/12/2009 15:16:52    516540

the thing about parking is that most of these stadia were created imin the middle of the town before the era of the car. they were convienent for those going by train(when we had trains) or on foot or bike. to have sufficient parking space the stadia will now need to be "out of town" already some "in town" stadia are being sold off to property developers for huge sums as their locations are attractive to housing and shopping development. most new stadia will be built on the outskirts with ample parking space but then where do you go for a pint.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 17/12/2009 15:18:48    516545

hate to say it but mullingar is very badly designed.stand is too small and only covers half of the seating in it....saying that it is a lovely pitch to play on....very impressed with tullamore and portlaoise and the work both counties have done there...just wonder why my own county couldnt follow their lead when renovating cusack park in the mid 90's.

depointswilcome (Westmeath) - Posts: 125 - 17/12/2009 18:13:38    516673

dunno about the best and the worst but i dread tyrone having 2 play at healy park never seem 2 play well their think the field is 2 narrow or something, its a great ground tho.

duke_raul (Tyrone) - Posts: 993 - 17/12/2009 18:18:07    516679

Newry is now a good stadium. recently renovated & looks well. Playing surface not too bad now either. Was very wet (called the Marshes), but well drained. There is a good atmosphere too especially at night.


Aughrim is a small tight little ground. I can see why the local like it as it is very intimidating for visiting teams.

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 17/12/2009 18:24:42    516683