The old desertmartin pitch was easily the best ground in ireland. You could literally be drowned or have your brains bashed out on rocks, all on the same pitch- in the shadow of slieve gallion
Tyrone were very much in transition by 2012 though. Even the fact that a moderate enough Kerry team beat them by 10 points that day illustrated their demise.
Has it ever been full. Ever?
1989 under-21 hurling final possibly?
The 2002 under-21 football had a good crowd but I donāt think the place was full.
I really like Tullamore mainly because the stewards there are sound and really helpful and the ladies who do the tea in the room under the stands are lovely.
4 Likes
Being from Kilkenny will always get you a great reception in Offaly.
Tullamore is the best and also most underrated in the country. Close to pubs and food and to the motorway. Great stand, one of the best and an excellent terrace across. The scoreboard end has nothing but it makes it a bit tighter seeming which does no harm.
Portlaoise is similar just not as nice a stadium. Mullingar is iconic due to the dunnes which says it all. I was most unimpressed by Navan, badly needs a revamp. Aughrim picturesque. Wexford park just lacks atmosphere, itās too big for how little crowds they get. Nowlan parks one strangely out of place stand behind the goal does nothing for it.
Ennis is a throw back but you are so close to the players itās excellent. Limericks covered stand is terrible, too shallow, at a weird angle. The surroundings hasnāt much going for it. Thurles gives me PTSD but itās a solid pitch and good sight lines. Never been to dungarvan. The less said about Welsh park the better.
Castlebars stand is the best in connacht, they could do with upgrading the rest but they donāt want to lost the all seater notoriety. The Hyde isnt a bad ground at all but the town is depressing and the graveyard is well placed, a pathetic fallacy of town planning. Carrick is well size for the county.
I wish athenry was developed into galways pitch, or ballinasloe, or loughrea. Anything but the wind tunnel. The pitch real galway hurling people enjoy travelling to most is Tullamore.
2 Likes
The stand behind the goal in Nowlan Park has by far the most comfortable, roomy seats and a great view from the top of the Hebron Road side corner
1 Like
The even give the tea to Waterford people. Itās a lovely touch.
One of the only downsides of Pairc ui Chaoimh being done up is that Pairc ui Rinn gets pretty much no games anymore, whether league matches or u21/20/minor games.
Itās a much underrated little ground, great view from the covered stand while thereās always a good atmosphere across the way in the covered terrace on the dug out side.
Easy to get in and out of, ideal venue for a small to middling crowd on a balmy Wednesday night - games which are lost in Stade de Frank.
4 Likes
They are so nice, theyāve washed out and filled baby bottles for me and wouldnāt take any money and the stewards are really helpful with small children.
They are also helpful in Limerick. In Nowlan Park and Semple they are extremely unhelpful.
Long trip alright but plenty places harder to get to. You can fly or train from Dublin to killarney
Tullamore is as good a spot as youāll find location and decency wise. The terrace behind the road end goals however is a massive drawback as is the Gale that is forever blowing through it.
OāMoore Paek is much under appreciated which ever way you look at it.
A packed Parnell park is a great venue , especially under lights .
Tullamore used to have a tunnel that ran from dressing room to the field . It was pitch black in there if a few lads were in front of you. Iād say thereās been some digs in it over the years
2 Likes
Itās a dump
What the fuck is unpopular opinion about the last 100 odd posts? Not a single arguable or contentious post.
Is that not carlow? Tunnel is still there
1 Like
Other than Croke Park, PUC (if you ignore the long walk through an industrial estate to get there) and Tullamore, with its magnificent tea & bun room under the stand, all GGA stadiums are dilapidated dumps. Long may it continue.
Tullamore defo had it before . Over in the far left corner if you were sitting in the stand.
1 Like
Two things:
-
Newbridge is a kip. Itās like a Leitrim club ground and that says something. There is obviously something rotten in Kildare GAA if that is the best ground they could come up with until now, given the amount of money in the county.
-
Slane is not a kip. In fact it is a lovely little village.
3 Likes
For facilities itās the worst. For atmosphere itās in the top 2.
1 Like