Pearse park in longford, salthill and tullamore are all grand spots.

Our own cusack park could do with a bit more than a lick of paint but drogheda has to be the worst set up I've been to

Bal1991 (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 09/08/2013 08:34:08    1457162

Richieq
County: Meath
Posts: 1264
I agree totally about the goal ends in Mac Hale Park, Mayo people correct me if I'm wrong but I think that all seater effort was done in the 90's, can't understand why the don't just regrade the steps put up barriers and leave it as terracing, I'm sure Mayo people would prefer that too

Be an idea alright but the stadium is so in debt I don't see that happening anytime soon.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11553 - 09/08/2013 08:50:53    1457167

Drogheda by a country mile, our CB are planning to build one with DKIT but it is dragging on, 6 mil with 1.5mil coming from Louth gaa.

My Club spent that in the last 10 years !

MR (Louth) - Posts: 2570 - 09/08/2013 09:27:15    1457179

Drogheda is not a county ground. It is the pitch for the O'Raghaillaigh's GAA club, that the county team borrow for matches...

Fat Boy (Cavan) - Posts: 372 - 09/08/2013 09:35:58    1457181

agree with most Tullamore is a fine ground, Ruislip is terrible but hopefully will be getting redeveloped next year.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 09/08/2013 09:54:50    1457199

Drogheda is very poor.

Tullamore as mentioned is very good, as is Portlaois. Really liked Wexford park when down there in the league a few years ago.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 09/08/2013 10:30:52    1457222

The most uncomfortable has to be Killarney I'm sad to say, sitting on two planks of timber my boney **** can't take it any more, and I really like mchale park and tullamore and o'moore prk, and pairc ui rinn.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 09/08/2013 10:37:27    1457228

The athletic grounds in Armagh are pretty good,
whilst the marshes in Newry are pretty abysmal!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 09/08/2013 10:37:56    1457229

We have some good county grounds ans some awful:-

but i think the best in the country is Armagh ( not biased of course) - because:-

1. ample carparking, 2. great stand - 5,580 seated capacity - covered terracing, the crowd are on top of the pitch - to give a good atmosphere,3. good toilets ( even for children - which Croker doesn't have), shops, 4 good sized changing rooms, 5. backdrop of the 2 cathedrals
lit up at night over the ancient city of Armagh
if you haven't been you are missing something - probably the only negative is the quality of football on offer!!!

Poor grounds - Navan - needs an overhaul/ Drogheda/ Casement/Ruislip/Clones/

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 09/08/2013 10:42:04    1457232

Kingspan Breffni Park definately one of the best
Pearse Park in Longford & Athletic Grounds Armagh are good also
Worst St Conleths Newbridge
Cant beat Clones for an Ulster Final though

lehitinwudya (Cavan) - Posts: 48 - 09/08/2013 10:43:50    1457236

Thurles by country mile, Dont think Waterford is a great spot

sean1916westmea (Westmeath) - Posts: 14 - 09/08/2013 11:01:49    1457252

In fairness to the Kildare county board they had plans to build a brand new stadium on the outskirts of Newbridge with a plan to selling the existing ground for commercial use, been bang in the middle of the town it was a potential goldmine especially with the whitewater shopping centre after opening up a few years earlier, but like so many they never seen the crash coming so they were left in the lurch and all plans were put on hold, it will be good while before the property market becomes feasible again.

But that doesn't mean they shouldn't get their finger out and make some drastic changes to the existing ground, I hope the county board has been reading this thread and feel somewhat embarrassed?. I think the pitch itself is fairly well maintained if a little narrow.

kildarecat22 (Kildare) - Posts: 257 - 09/08/2013 11:13:18    1457264

helay park omagh, just a terrible playing surface

WillieFrazer (Armagh) - Posts: 38 - 09/08/2013 11:37:56    1457292

What's wrong with Ballybofey!?

Samsforthehills (Donegal) - Posts: 1075 - 09/08/2013 12:30:43    1457352

waynoI
County: Dublin
Posts: 7424

1456708
Best: MacHale Park (being biased)
Worst: Pairc Ui Caoimh but hopefully the new stadium will be class.

_________________

They don't need that new stadium, A few upgrades maybe but that's about It.

Have you been in it lately? The place is crumbling. Shame really because I like the enclosed oval shape.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 09/08/2013 12:40:09    1457363

Cusack Park, Westmeath, Newbridge and Ballybofey coming in for severe criticism here but there is a common reason, all of these are smack bang in the middle of the towns and access to grounds is painfully limited in all three locations. However, Mullingar and Ballybofey are very decent comfortable grounds to watch games, when you do get in. The stand in Newbridge leaves an awful lot to be desired.

Easily the worst ground in Ireland from a spectators viewpoint is Drogheda! Special mention to Parnell Park in Dublin which has the most disgraceful access of any county ground in Ireland, especially for the Capital's home ground! Although I played there when there was a tin shed up posing as the stand, and that's not that long ago, so it has improved :-)

Salmanneile (Longford) - Posts: 113 - 09/08/2013 13:19:41    1457416

Don't know why MacHale park and Ballybofey were mentioned. I always found both ok , Mac Hale park seems to be excellent for parking and Ballybofey not too bad . Mayo people will know better . Salthill is a nightmare to get out off. Thought Cusack in Mullingar was poor because very small stand

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 09/08/2013 13:24:17    1457420

Salmanneile
County: Longford
Posts: 46

1457416
Cusack Park, Westmeath, Newbridge and Ballybofey coming in for severe criticism here but there is a common reason, all of these are smack bang in the middle of the towns and access to grounds is painfully limited in all three locations. However, Mullingar and Ballybofey are very decent comfortable grounds to watch games, when you do get in. The stand in Newbridge leaves an awful lot to be desired.

Easily the worst ground in Ireland from a spectators viewpoint is Drogheda! Special mention to Parnell Park in Dublin which has the most disgraceful access of any county ground in Ireland, especially for the Capital's home ground! Although I played there when there was a tin shed up posing as the stand, and that's not that long ago, so it has improved :-)


you saycusack park,ballybofey and newbridge all abng smack in middle of towns yet turn around and slate parnell park for the exact same reason haha make up your mind pal.
parnell as anybody knows has no room whatsoever,its a miracle they got they have a good 10 thousand ground there as with golf course,school and church all around it,its actually a really good modern small ground its just the fact that its dublins ground that makes it too small.it would be perfect in westmeath or louth

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 09/08/2013 14:15:57    1457494

It would be Pairc ui Chaoimh for me and Pearce Stadium Salthill. Nothing personal against Pearce stadium but the sheer nightmare of access makes it one of the worst Venus in Ireland.

campbelltommy (Mayo) - Posts: 103 - 09/08/2013 14:35:22    1457526

Seems to be a lot of grounds being considered bad purely on size.
Mullingar for example, Ive never seen anything wrong with the stand thats there and the far side has a tidy terrace and same behind one goals. Its a lot tidier that our own ground in Navan, but Navan is on a bigger scale. If whats currently in Mullingar was on a bigger scale, but in the same condition, I doubt too many would question it at all.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 09/08/2013 14:36:18    1457528