Gaelic Grounds
Encyclopedia
The Gaelic Grounds or Páirc na nGael is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association
stadium in Limerick City, Ireland
, home to the Limerick
hurling and football teams.
October 9, 1926 saw first steps taken towards creating the Limerick Gaelic Grounds as a GAA stadium of note. A farm containing 12 acres (4.9 ha) was purchased at Coolraine on the Ennis Road for development as a sporting grounds. Two years later the new grounds officially opened with two junior hurling
games. The first big effort to raise funds for the development of the grounds was in 1932, with the establishment of a development committee, whose remit was to level the pitch, providing sideline seating and erect a boundary wall. The 1950s saw crowds of up to 50,000 attending games in the grounds. 1958 saw a new stand being built at Páirc na nGael - it was the Old Hogan Stand from Croke Park
. A record paid attendance of 61,174 witnessed the Munster
hurling final between Cork
and Tipperary
at the stadium in 1961 and it is estimated that another 10,000 spectators piled in without paying after the gates were broken down. In 1979 a major decision was taken to update the grounds completely. It took three years before plans were drawn up for a new stand and in 1986 planning permission was granted by Limerick Corporation for the Mick Mackey
Stand. The updated stand was completed in 1988, just in time for the Munster hurling final. In 2004 biggest rejuvenation of the stadium was completed with the opening of a new 12,000 uncovered stand along with 2 new terraces behind both goals at a cost of €12 million. The current capacity of the Gaelic Grounds is 49,500.
It has also hosted a game in the International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland. The hybrid game was played outside Croke Park
for only the second time on Irish soil, with Pearse Stadium in Galway the other previous host.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
stadium in Limerick City, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, home to the Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
hurling and football teams.
October 9, 1926 saw first steps taken towards creating the Limerick Gaelic Grounds as a GAA stadium of note. A farm containing 12 acres (4.9 ha) was purchased at Coolraine on the Ennis Road for development as a sporting grounds. Two years later the new grounds officially opened with two junior hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
games. The first big effort to raise funds for the development of the grounds was in 1932, with the establishment of a development committee, whose remit was to level the pitch, providing sideline seating and erect a boundary wall. The 1950s saw crowds of up to 50,000 attending games in the grounds. 1958 saw a new stand being built at Páirc na nGael - it was the Old Hogan Stand from Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. A record paid attendance of 61,174 witnessed the Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
hurling final between Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
at the stadium in 1961 and it is estimated that another 10,000 spectators piled in without paying after the gates were broken down. In 1979 a major decision was taken to update the grounds completely. It took three years before plans were drawn up for a new stand and in 1986 planning permission was granted by Limerick Corporation for the Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
Stand. The updated stand was completed in 1988, just in time for the Munster hurling final. In 2004 biggest rejuvenation of the stadium was completed with the opening of a new 12,000 uncovered stand along with 2 new terraces behind both goals at a cost of €12 million. The current capacity of the Gaelic Grounds is 49,500.
It has also hosted a game in the International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland. The hybrid game was played outside Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
for only the second time on Irish soil, with Pearse Stadium in Galway the other previous host.