preferred lansdowne alernatives

[dynamo kerry]

if in deed we do have to take it on the chin and go abroad... where is preferred

I'd lean towards cardiff myself. massive quality stadium. accessible. lots of seats.

[John83]

if in deed we do have to take it on the chin and go abroad... where is preferred

I'd lean towards cardiff myself. massive quality stadium. accessible. lots of seats.Wouldn't fill it. Anfield or Goodison (sp?) would be better. Though Anfield is going to be replaced at some stage too, isn't it?

[dynamo kerry]

Wouldn't fill it. Anfield or Goodison (sp?) would be better. Though Anfield is going to be replaced at some stage too, isn't it?

good point- anfield may be unavailable come sep 2006

you don't think 60,00 irish people would go to cardiff to see the game? you don't think the fai would try and sell 60-65,000 tickets?

[Schumi]

60,000 irish people would go to cardiff to see the game?
Capacity is 80,000 isn't it?

[Greenbod]

Ok, I'll be the first to suggest the obvious..........Celtic Park, closest thing to an Irish stadium outside Ireland :)

[dynamo kerry]

Schumi: yeah it is 80K - I'm just saying 60K would be enough to justify using it - sorry I should have been clearer

this also removes the " I can't get tickets moan" and replaces it with "it's too expensive o go to cardiff" moan

conor:good call on CoM.. well worth a look I reckon.

I don't think tralee udc could cope with the crowds though.

[Schumi]

Schumi: yeah it is 80K - I'm just saying 60K would be enough to justify using it.
Fair enough. 60k is still a lot of people to travel for a match, especially the smaller ones. You wouldn't get near that for the likes of Faroes or Cyprus.

[Greenbod]

We could fill Celtic Park without anybody travelling.... Wouldn't even have to send any flags.

[dynamo kerry]

true. 3 games out of 5 I reckon you'd get it. a lot of uk based people would go mind you.

I'm guessing they will have this sorted before they break ground in lansdowne which means sometime around he world cup they should know

[dynamo kerry]

short article on the topic (http://www.irishvibe.com/article-109-flat-0-0.html)

I like rooneys comment about sometimes it isn't possible to play home games at home.
I don't know of it happening to any other country except israel (for far more important reasons)
also - cardiff has less seats than I thought - only 73K

[thejollyrodger]

we would shift 80,000 tickets anywhere in the UK for an Ireland match.
I think Cardiff is the best option.

Whats the capacity of Ibrox, just in case Cardiff is unavailable : P

[yur man]

would hate to see home games abroad but if they go for it, the best option would be a club ground

mainly for the fact that we would have an awkward time fixing the games when it comes to qualifiers, eg we would be governed by when wales are playin their games at home

i dont think theyd have any trouble filling most club grounds in england. if i had to choose it would be one of the manchester stadiums

[dynamo kerry]

I don't particularly like Ibrox or Cardiff. Definitly not a good idea to move our games to Britain. Too many ex-pats/"Oiwish" would attend the games. This would lead to a poor atmosphere, even worse than Lansdowne currently is. The ex-pats didn't even turn up for the Unity Cup games in London and haven't the passion for Ireland games.


you're having a laugh. Have you talked to any ex-pats about it(not ones from this board). none of them knew about it. despite evidence to the contrary, charlton is a bit tricky to get to the the tickets were massively overpriced. But thats beside the point that no one KNEW about it.

and anyway. why shouldn't ex-pats get to go? Ever had to go abroad to work? Well if ya had you'd appreciate having being to Ireland games a bit more. And before you start pal. I've been to my fair share of games home and away and in my current state of not even being able to get the games on tv I fell fairly aggreived.

ibrox is a non-starter. glasgow is initself unlikely. It's cardiff or manchester realistically.

edit: by the way- where do you suggest we play?

[fergalr]

If and only if the worst comes to the worst and the GAA prove utterly unpatriotic we'll have to play abroad. If that happens then we should play where its most accessable and cheapest to get to. London anyone? Failing that, what about Malaga?

[dynamo kerry]

cardiff return from €45 - lying air

ferry service costs more but doable..

sod all that. let's get them to play in phoenix park and we'll all go up with binoculars and sambos

[deadman]

what about the other fully seated international ground on the island? and with fran being so friendly with Jim Boyce this weather i'm sure we would have no trouble making arrangements with Linfield for Windsor Park.

.... or failing that then malaga, ibrox or the Carlisle grounds, in that order

[dynamo kerry]

windsor park?

not a chance. be nice to stay on-island .. but not a chance

[eirebhoy]

The main problems people have brought up are filling the stadium, lack of atmosphere and accessibility. Celtic Park is the answer. We'd easily get 30-40,000 Irish over and the Scots fill the rest. We are guaranteed the best atmosphere at an Ireland "home game" in years. The only problem is games clashing with the Scots but I'm sure that can easily be sorted (They do that kind of thing in seconds for CL draws so games don't clash on the same day, etc.). There are more anti-Celtic's in Ireland than there are in Scotland though.

[thejollyrodger]

Whats the capacity of Ibrox, just in case Cardiff is unavailable : P

Here, I was joking about heading to Ibrox !! (note the : P ) there is no way I would want to head over there with all those irish hating ranger supporters !!

I wouldnt head up the north either ... another big no no!!

But what about doing it in style and asking the french for Stade de France in paris :D :D

[tiktok]

Croke Park is the only option, and I firmly belioeve that Sean Kelly and the current GAA administration will come through with at worst a deal to oipen the ground temporarily and close it again once Landsdowne is ready.

If the worst came to the worst, Old Trafford, Anfield or Goodison. From the travel point of view they'd be the easiest for most fans to get to, be it by Ferry or plane.

[IsMiseSean]

I'd love to see the games played in Celtic Park, but the possiblity of the games clashing with the scottish home fixtures, my second choice would be Anfield or Goodison.

Not Old Trafford

[eirebhoy]

We haven't been drawn with a British team in years and since all 4 UK countries are a different seeding to us it must be odds on that we'll draw one for the EC08 qualifiers. Maybe we'll have to wait until the draw takes place before making a choice otherwise we could be playing the same team away twice. Imagine Northern Ireland were in this situation before the 2006 qualifiers and they decided to play in England, both Wales and England would be closer to N.Ireland's home. :)

[crc]

or if all five teams in these isles were drawn in the same group and windsor was declared unfit, or something (not completely unthinkable)...

we could have the north playing in ibrox, south in Celtic park and Scotland in hampden!!!! :D :p

======

my own pref is for cardiff, but i see the point about fixture clash - then maybe City of Man Stadium, wouldn't like to go to Old Trafford, it would send out the completely wrong image about Irish football.
Also, I'm not against Celtic park, per se, but I feel there is potential for trouble in Glasgow that wouldn't be there in Wales.

[brendy_éire]

Reckon the GAA will allow Croke Park to be used, they need the money.
However, if they don't, I don't think we should play our international matches in another country.
What's wrong with Windsor exactly? Police escorts to and from the ground and everyone's grand.

Personally, I think it would be a massive embarassment to play games outside the country. I'd actual prefer them to be played in the country, regardless of capacity. Use Dalymount, Tolka, Thomond, anywhere. I'd feel sick to the stomach to see the Irish national team play a 'home' game anywhere outside the country.

[onenilgameover]

Croke Park...I was there and it is big enough and nice enough!

[petef]

Croke Park would obviously make sense, as good a prospect as Celtic Park sounds the only reservation I'd have would be the number of celtic fans going to the game without a real interest in the outcome, as was evident in the friendly over here against Scotland where most of them thought it would be better to get absolutley sh** faced, sing rebel songs and henrik larsson chants directing them at the Rangers contingent in the Scottish sections. Id' prefer to go to a venue where we'd actually get fans who had a true interest in Irish football.

[gspain]

If Croke Park is available then obviously no doubt we have to go ther e- keep the games in Ireland not to mention the jobs and revenue that would be lost to our economy if we played our home football (and rugby) Internationals abroad.

I don't share the optimism re the GAA opening up Croke Park. I've no doubt Sean Kelly is genuine and able however he has already been seriously damaged by the other forces. People like one "wellknown GAA countyboard chairman" are very powerful and would rather burn Croke Park to the ground than let a football match be played there. It is easy to typecast the GAA bigots as ignorant backwoodsmen but while some are they are being controlled by so very capable and intelligent albeit evil bigots.

The big player here is the government and if they have the guts to go through with the Realpolitik of not giving in and giving further huge grants to the GAA without Croke Park being opnened up. However 2006 will be an election year and Fianna Fail backbench TDs will want to look after the GAA when the big spend starts to try and buy the election again.

If we have to go abroad I don't think Cardiff is easily accessible. It does not have the number of flights that London or Liverpool/Manchester have. London could have problem swith england at home in the same city so I think it will be Liverpool/Manchester.

Glasgow is not really an option - much less accessible, and the sectarian problems not to mention if a few locals decided to go along and boo Liam Miller.

[Peadar]

Judging by the crowds at the Unity Cup I think we should settle for somewhere more compact, like the Madejski.
Anfield or Parkhead and I'd nearly quit Ireland to follow England!

[Stuttgart88]

Croke Park is the only option

Am I the only one who has ever wondered why only Croker? Once the GAA opens up in principle (a very big assumption) a modestly refurbished Pairc Ui Caoimh could easily host an international game. I'm sure there are others that could host a friendly game or a match against a smaller country. Regional GAA councils would need to approve but I'm sure they could use the cash. Who knows, Cork could be to us what Seville is to the Spanish?

Although I'm a Dub I've often thought it's unfair that Dublin has exclusivity over both soccer & rugby internationals.

If we had to play abroad Anfield would be my preferred option. The 1995 game against the Dutch was one of my favourite games of all time despite the result. Singing "You'll Never walk Alone" on The Kop was magic, and I'm not a Liverpool fan.

I wish all footy grounds were like Anfield, not these modern 80k seater jobs, although my mate was at Cardiff for a play-off final and came back saying it's the "Bang & Olufsen of footy grounds".

[gspain]

I think it's a national disgrace that we have to even consider playing our home games abroad. The FAI should whack a few quid under the noses of those bigots at Croke Park and ask for the use of their ground. The GAA have humongous debts and if they're too narrowminded to milk the cash cow and repay the banks . . .

As the old saying goes the GAA's love of the half crown is only out weighed by their hatred of the crown.

[Countyman]

I have no doubt Ireland will be playing rugby and soccer in croke park for those few years.
I bet a deal will be done between all 3 organisations and we will see some GAA games in lansdowne too (the playing area will be big enough to accomdate all sports)

The politicians will not let all that ancillary revenue that big match days generate leave the country. The only problem I see will be lighting up croker for mid week games. Maybe the GAA will let them in if the FAI/IRFU fund a new lighting system?

It would be a huge embarrasement in this day and age to play abroad for "home games". As someone else said I'd rather play in Tolka or dalymount with only 10k than play in Scotland , England or Wales.

[corkharps]

If Croke Park isn't available,we should play in Tolka,Dalymount,Turners Cross,Flansiro etc. or just forfeit the games.Eircom Park would now be ready if Bertie kept his duckin nose out of it! :mad:

[thejollyrodger]

Personally I think it will be Croke Park. When all the issues are thrashed out we will end up where we started (i.e croker) and the decision will be made to play the matches there.

It was the same with Landsdowne Road/Bertie Bowl, the orginal plan was just to do up Landsdowne Road, but its all swings and round abouts in Ireland.

Bertie Ahern cant let the matches go overseas, once the decision to play the matches in Cardiff, watch the public outcry :)

Only draw back about Croker is the terracing on hill 16. I dont know if its possible to put in temporay seating, but it will look pretty barron. The government or IRFU/FAI will have to come to some arrangement with Floodlighting ;)

[pete]

Irelnd currently get 35,000 for home games & aside from maybe 1 big game a year there isn't hige demand beyond that.

Use Tolka for teams similar to Cyprus, Faroes & Israel, Windsor Park for bigger games. Would probably boycott any "home" game played abroad.

If the govt don't get some sort of usage clause for gives more money to the GAA then i think they'll be crucified in public. This could all start around the run up to next election so i think Bertie will be well aware of the stakes...

[max power]

giants stadium in New York, could you imagine us NOT selling that venue out, remember the world cup ladies and gents......... :D

or ibrox.

[tiktok]

Am I the only one who has ever wondered why only Croker? Once the GAA opens up in principle (a very big assumption) a modestly refurbished Pairc Ui Caoimh could easily host an international game.

I think the Pairc Ui Chaoimh and others wouldn't get a UEFA licence, we'd have to have bucket seats in Hill 16 in Croker as it is, if we got a derogation.

[Bring Back Mick]

Irelnd currently get 35,000 for home games & aside from maybe 1 big game a year there isn't hige demand beyond that.

Use Tolka for teams similar to Cyprus, Faroes & Israel, Windsor Park for bigger games. Would probably boycott any "home" game played abroad.

If the govt don't get some sort of usage clause for gives more money to the GAA then i think they'll be crucified in public. This could all start around the run up to next election so i think Bertie will be well aware of the stakes...


Boycott "Home games " played abroad, play @ Windsor pk u r joking...........

Bring the Boys in green to the home of the magic man Stamford Bridge !!!

[Fr. Murphy]

play them in the phoenix park im sure the rent boys wont mind

[gspain]

Irelnd currently get 35,000 for home games & aside from maybe 1 big game a year there isn't hige demand beyond that.

Use Tolka for teams similar to Cyprus, Faroes & Israel, Windsor Park for bigger games. Would probably boycott any "home" game played abroad.

If the govt don't get some sort of usage clause for gives more money to the GAA then i think they'll be crucified in public. This could all start around the run up to next election so i think Bertie will be well aware of the stakes...

Err we manage to get 35,000 for homes games - which is a sellout despite forcing fans to buy tickets for every friendly and with a waiting list of 1,000 still to buy block bookings.

We would sellout Croke Park tomorrow no problem for Cyprus.

Floodlights are not neccessary to play games - we can play saturday/wednesday afternoons - did for many years.

BTW while the Cork county board are probably the worst they have strong support from Waterford, Clare, sligo and the northern counties. Limerick delegates were once mandated to vote 12-0 in favour of opening up Croke Park - they voted 9-3 against and nobdy dared challenge them afterwards.

[A..J.]

Yeah sure why not play in Stamford Bridge......sure half the team are Brits anyway.......Kilbane, Morrison & Holland would fit in nicely!!!!!!

Play them in Tolka..........the biggest all seater soccer ground in Ireland???

[blobbyblob]

As much as it is everyones first choice, it will not be Croke Park. It would virtually take a coup to bring down the hierarchy of the dinosaurs that have control and thats not going to happen, despite Sean Kellys best intentions.

The GAA have no problem with open its doors to the IRFU as its a 32 county represented sport. They feel however that the Republic of Ireland Soccer team is "partisan" by only fielding 26 counties. This is paraphrasing Peter Quinn who I beleive was an ex-President of the Association.

To argue the point with Mr Quinn, as far as I know, residents of the 6 counties are entitled to a Republic of Ireland Passport if they so wish so therefore, the team can esentially be picked from a 32 county background which does in fact scupper his arguement. This may have changed in our most recent referendum. If so, i stand corrected.

Saying all that, financially, the FAI will have no option but to use a Stadium in the UK. I think somewhere like the Reebok Stadium would accomodate the number of Fans that would travel. It would be accesable and compact and ideal for a home away from home.

I presume that temporary seats will still be acceptable while the transition is taking place. How many temporary seats could you fit into Thomand Park, Limerick. That place has an amazing athmosphere for Munster Rugby games and although its a complete different set of supporters, It would be interesting to see the reaction youd get for a game in there.

[brendy_éire]

The only problem I see will be lighting up croker for mid week games. Maybe the GAA will let them in if the FAI/IRFU fund a new lighting system?

Temporary floodlighting would do the job, I assume. Just do whatever they done for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics.

[gspain]

As much as it is everyones first choice, it will not be Croke Park. It would virtually take a coup to bring down the hierarchy of the dinosaurs that have control and thats not going to happen, despite Sean Kellys best intentions.

The GAA have no problem with open its doors to the IRFU as its a 32 county represented sport. They feel however that the Republic of Ireland Soccer team is "partisan" by only fielding 26 counties. This is paraphrasing Peter Quinn who I beleive was an ex-President of the Association.

To argue the point with Mr Quinn, as far as I know, residents of the 6 counties are entitled to a Republic of Ireland Passport if they so wish so therefore, the team can esentially be picked from a 32 county background which does in fact scupper his arguement. This may have changed in our most recent referendum. If so, i stand corrected.

Saying all that, financially, the FAI will have no option but to use a Stadium in the UK. I think somewhere like the Reebok Stadium would accomodate the number of Fans that would travel. It would be accesable and compact and ideal for a home away from home.

I presume that temporary seats will still be acceptable while the transition is taking place. How many temporary seats could you fit into Thomand Park, Limerick. That place has an amazing athmosphere for Munster Rugby games and although its a complete different set of supporters, It would be interesting to see the reaction youd get for a game in there.

The GAA have not opened their doors to rugby and have given no indication that they will. Before JP McManus bailed them out Limerick GAA were in a mess but could have filled the gaelic grounds 4 times a year in the winter with 50,000 Munster rugby fans - not a hope. The rugby Internationals will go to the UK as well.

Peter Quinn is a key man as you indicate - he is actually publicly in favour of opening up Croke Park but privately is in line with the great combover. Pat Fanning in waterford still yields power as well. The footsoldiers (the guys who spent their saturday nights in the 70's and early 80's spreading broken glass around football goalmouths and smiling en route to Mass the following morning as managers desperately tried to pick it up or bury it in case their neighbour's kids got cut to bits) will gladly fall in line.

Thomond Park holds just under 15,000 with almost 14,000 of those standing. With temporary seating it would hold less than Tolka even if we got agreement for temporary seating. Fantastic atmosphere though as you say.

[pete]

The GAA are entitled to do what they want with own stadiums but this whole thing about looking for government to help with their escalating debt while having satdiums sitting unused reminds of those stories you hear of old farmers sitting on vast land but no running water or electricity yet unwilling to sell a few acres of land

:rolleyes:

[blobbyblob]

The GAA have not opened their doors to rugby and have given no indication that they will. Before JP McManus bailed them out Limerick GAA were in a mess but could have filled the gaelic grounds 4 times a year in the winter with 50,000 Munster rugby fans - not a hope. The rugby Internationals will go to the UK as well..

The IRFU/Munster Branch never requested any GAA ground for its use as they have Thomand and Lansdowne at their disposal. Why would they The issue of rugbys placement has not been discussed as the IRFU have not made such a big ho-ha about the situation.



Peter Quinn is a key man as you indicate - he is actually publicly in favour of opening up Croke Park but privately is in line with the great combover. Pat Fanning in waterford still yields power as well. The footsoldiers (the guys who spent their saturday nights in the 70's and early 80's spreading broken glass around football goalmouths and smiling en route to Mass the following morning as managers desperately tried to pick it up or bury it in case their neighbour's kids got cut to bits) will gladly fall in line. .

I sat in front of the man when he debated this point to death. The only county board in Munster in favour of its opening is Kerry. They are open to the idea of rugby being played there but have not been approached but soccer is a big no no.



Thomond Park holds just under 15,000 with almost 14,000 of those standing. With temporary seating it would hold less than Tolka even if we got agreement for temporary seating. Fantastic atmosphere though as you say.
Rules that out. Just a thought though.

Furthermore , The GAA have some cheek to have a hand in the development of the new Lansdowne Rd or to even suggest playing games there in the future. I believe the pitch will be lenghtened to accomodate GAA fixtures. Saying that, it would be the pot calling the kettle black if the IRFU/FAI decided to keep them out.

[blobbyblob]

Slightly off topic but correct me if i am wrong here also but wasn't a GAA pitch in Omagh used for a soccer match for a fundraiser for the Omagh attrocity?

[gspain]

Slightly off topic but correct me if i am wrong here also but wasn't a GAA pitch in Omagh used for a soccer match for a fundraiser for the Omagh attrocity?

No it was turned down (probably when they heard it was to be for the victims and not for the guys who carried it out :( ) 3 games played at St Julians instead - involving Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea - Omagh Town's home ground.

However GAA clubs can be used for SF/IRA fundraising events and GAA grounds are used for SF/IRA marches and rallies. Tyrone GAA players (Sean Teague captain and Peter Canavan star player) can appear in full Tyrone GAA kit on SF election material without a word of censure and it has been official GAA policy for the past 25 years to "support the struggle for national liberation"

Galway United played a European tie at Ballindeerin's GAA ground - local club were really helpful and it was allowed as ground was community owened. Local GAA county board didn't play a match there for 8 years afterwards as punishment.

No ground vested in the GAA can be used or has been used for football or rugby.

however they have been used for concerts, countless American Football games (since 1953), boxing athletics among others

[republic]

Irelnd currently get 35,000 for home games & aside from maybe 1 big game a year there isn't hige demand beyond that.

Use Tolka for teams similar to Cyprus, Faroes & Israel, Windsor Park for bigger games. Would probably boycott any "home" game played abroad.

If the govt don't get some sort of usage clause for gives more money to the GAA then i think they'll be crucified in public. This could all start around the run up to next election so i think Bertie will be well aware of the stakes...


I can't believe this is a serious suggestion. With additional Press seating etc, Tolka would only hold 9,000. Even Shels won't hold any European tie of significance there. The capacity of Windsor is now only 14,000. Our friends at OWC would love to see the Republic playing there. :D

Personally I would not like to see us play any games at Croke Park and would be reluctant to give them a cent. At least we would be be welcome in the UK.

[Duncan Gardner]

Personally I would not like to see us play any games at Croke Park and would be reluctant to give them a cent. At least we would be be welcome in the UK

I think you'd be generally welcome in Britain, but specific grounds would have problems. In increasing order of likelihood,

0. Wembley. Even if they ever finish it, I doubt they'd lend it to you (embarrassing if you get bigger crowds, less arrests, etc.).

1. Belfast. Forget it. Windsor is ramshackle, too small, but more importantly given the bad feeling between a section of both teams' fans, it's a no-no. During the emergency, Dublin, Drog and Dundalk's fire brigades drove north through the blitz. Many years later, as a small symbolic gesture, Belfast's came for the Stardust nightclub fire in Coolock(?). We'd help if it was a crisis, if there were no other stadia in the country. But there are plenty. Parley with the GAA, or increase capacity at Rovers, Bohs or Tolka.

2. Reading/ medium sized southern grounds generally. Pointless- if you're going to leave the country, go to somewhere large, as you'll get stick wherever but at least a bigger ground shows more ambition. On the other hand, you hardly filled Charlton for the early summer games. I know the tournament was poorly publicised, but many claimed on here that the real reason was Charlton's remoteness. Actually, it's only SEVEN miles from central London, comparable to Dun Laoghaire or Howth. And though the next door train station was closed on the Saturday, there's a tube with 20 trains per hour only two miles away served by plentiful buses and taxis.

3 Glasgow. I realise Ibrox was a joke- the party politcal problems as with Windsor- but actually Celtic's hardly ideal either. The strathclyde Police wouldn't necessarily be keen on 50-70,000 away fans turning up in the city. Of course they plan for the Old Firm, but it's not quite the same thing.

4 Cardiff. Less sectarianism than Glesga- the locals prefer to row with Swansea and occasionally English teams- but the city's less accessible by air and rail than many in Britain. Also, there are plenty of rugby and other events there.

5. ManU/ Liverpool/ big northern grounds generally. Could work if the price is right, I suppose.

But talk to the GAA. It ain't ideal but it's better than abroad.

[brendy_éire]

1. Belfast. Forget it. Windsor is ramshackle, too small, but more importantly given the bad feeling between a section of both teams' fans, it's a no-no.

Would the IFA not be glad of the extra money? In the new spirit of co-operation, eg the Setanta Cup, I'd like to see Windsor be used.
Basically, if the FAI offered a decent amount of money to play at Windsor, I wonder whether the IFA would be in a position to refuse them.