Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Burnsie]

Do those pitches not have a 10yr lifespan?

typically seven years I think

[sbgawa]

is it not substantially cheaper to replace an existing one in terms of the groundwork being significantly in place already.

[Elfman]

It is but Dundalk are doing it the Max Power way – that's the wrong way... But faster!

Jokes aside, I vaguely recall someone claiming that to save money Dundalk opted against laying a shock absorbing pad when the 2017 pitch went down. So possibly that or costs have just gone up again.

[Nesta99]

You wouldnt get a pitch to pass testing without the shock absrobing layer. Now maybe that wasnt relayed or needed relaying. A lot of the issues with the deterioration of these surfaces are the quality of the initial laying. One previous owner had the surface layer relaid by his own company workers and it wasnt right. Not convinced by the last installation either, if you can see joins... Keeping maintenance up to scratch is where this last iteration significantly deteriorated the last 3 years or so. There is modifications to this pitch dimensions which require foundation work. It has to be moved/extended I presume to increase the distance between goal line and perimiter wall behind the Carrick Road goal.

[ToberonaTornado]

Louth girls under-age combo league played about 9 finals final matches on the old surface on Saturday.(Albeit not full 90min games) packed stand cheering them on (vital Community link)
The main pitch @ Oriel is in huge demand 7 days a week.
If we get a pitch half as good as Bray have I'll be ok with that.
The Floodlights are also getting an upgrade
Small steps as we look to recover.....

[John83]

They come out in a rash at the thoughts of getting a red line Luas.
They're just uncomfortable with the concept of free travel for the unwashed.

[Nesta99]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/1127/1546158-no-grand-designs-footballs-infrastructure-logjam/

First time ive heard that a long term lease eg the one on Oriel precludes from capital grant applications, it would make sense in terms of nothing done but the lease is a long time on the go and still has 70+ years left. Greenfield site should top the options but that not what the club and consultants opted for.

[Dalymountrower]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/1127/1546158-no-grand-designs-footballs-infrastructure-logjam/

First time ive heard that a long term lease eg the one on Oriel precludes from capital grant applications, it would make sense in terms of nothing done but the lease is a long time on the go and still has 70+ years left. Greenfield site should top the options but that not what the club and consultants opted for.

The article is well worth a read.

[Martinho II]

The article is well worth a read.

Superb read this piece. It brings back memories of the long period of time we had to wait between moving out of Abbeycartron for Bishopsgate. The groundworks at Bishopsgate stalled for close to a decade !

[brendy_éire]

Brandywell pitch being ripped up at some stage next year, and there's talk of us trying to use Celtic Park. Makes sense.
Not sure why there's talk of Sligo Showgrounds as a back-up when Maginn Park (or even Finn Park) are closer. It's not like we'd get that big a crowd going to Sligo for a match.

https://share.google/6XvTqxUAbJXH4Rs98

[Mr A]

With Harps having a women's team this year, it would be a big challenge to have more games there, but if it's at the end of the Irish League season the weather could potentially make it possible to use Finn Park

[dundalkfc10]

Is the pitch Derry played on a few years ago not available.

[Mr A]

Maginn.. yeah it probably would be, owned by Inishowen League

[brendy_éire]

Celtic Park confirmed, according to the Examiner.
Genuinely surprised at that. A great arrangement.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41752671.html

[Nesta99]

Should stick up a poster of yiz playing a Celtic X1 in Celtic Park, make a small fortune........

[placid casual]

Probably a hard question to answer at this stage, but would the safety for away fans be any better/worse in the gaa ground?

[Dalymountrower]

Probably a hard question to answer at this stage, but would the safety for away fans be any better/worse in the gaa ground?

Been in Celtic Park a few times to see the Dubs vDerry and always had a good time there.

Unfortunately it probably has more safety issues for away fans than the Brandywell. There is a big terrace behind the south goal but access is from the Lone Moor Road. A lot more houses there too than the away entrance into the Brandywell.
Sure Derry will fill the 18,000 capacity with no away fans and the other clubs will reciprocate with no away Derry fans for corresponding fixtures ?
( would be sensible to do that for a few years for the Bohs fixtures anyway)

[Martinho II]

Great arrangement for Derry City is Celtic Park far from Brandywell? Forgot that Institute play in the Brandywell.

[brendy_éire]

Probably a hard question to answer at this stage, but would the safety for away fans be any better/worse in the gaa ground?

Pretty much the same, if not better? Hard to know.
There's a car park behind each of the goals, so could keep things quite separate.

[refjohn]

Great arrangement for Derry City is Celtic Park far from Brandywell? Forgot that Institute play in the Brandywell.

Next door literally. Maybe 200 metres up the hill

[Martinho II]

Next door literally. Maybe 200 metres up the hill

Silly me ! Of course I know it now ya tell me! Last time I stayed over night in Derry when we played them I remember walking by their ground and some steep hill it is too!

[sbgawa]

That hill wasnt half as steep back in the 90s

[Nesta99]

Years of practice sbgawa, it just got easier with age and that hill always seemed tougher with city centre pints on board!

[oriel]

Good progress on the pitch, this is not even after 2 weeks.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1996666002273345883?s=20

[brendy_éire]

Maginn.. yeah it probably would be, owned by Inishowen League

Maginn doesn't have a Premier license, neither does Finn Park, hence Sligo Showgrounds is the back-up to Celtic Park.

[redobit]

Maginn doesn't have a Premier license, neither does Finn Park, hence Sligo Showgrounds is the back-up to Celtic Park.

Does that mean Celtic park had to apply and get approved for a premier league licence.

[Mr A]

Am sure exceptions could be made for a temporary period when the reason is ground upgrades

[Guitd]

Am sure exceptions could be made for a temporary period when the reason is ground upgrades

So 2 premier teams will be playing in Gaa stadiums during next summer Derry City and Galway United great to see 10 y ago this wouldn’t have happened

[Roones26]

"Action 2.8 Develop an island wide dual-use facilities strategy

Recognising the need for greater efficiency and inclusivity, the GAA should lead the development of
a dual-use and shared-access facilities strategy in collaboration with schools, local authorities, and
community organisations.


This framework would:


. Enable underutilised GAA facilities, especially in rural areas, to serve as multi-use community hubs
during off-peak times (e.g. school hours).


. Facilitate reciprocal access for GAA clubs to local authority, school, or community facilities,
particularly in space-constrained urban areas.


· Establish clear governance, scheduling, and maintenance protocols to ensure fairness, safety, and
accountability.


· Reduce duplication of investment while maximising participation and supporting lifelong
engagement in sport."

You would wonder os this a more widespread softening by the GAA on access to facilities and sharing facilities

[EatYerGreens]

"Action 2.8 Develop an island wide dual-use facilities strategy

Recognising the need for greater efficiency and inclusivity, the GAA should lead the development of
a dual-use and shared-access facilities strategy in collaboration with schools, local authorities, and
community organisations.


This framework would:


. Enable underutilised GAA facilities, especially in rural areas, to serve as multi-use community hubs
during off-peak times (e.g. school hours).


. Facilitate reciprocal access for GAA clubs to local authority, school, or community facilities,
particularly in space-constrained urban areas.


· Establish clear governance, scheduling, and maintenance protocols to ensure fairness, safety, and
accountability.


· Reduce duplication of investment while maximising participation and supporting lifelong
engagement in sport."

You would wonder os this a more widespread softening by the GAA on access to facilities and sharing facilities

Yes - it's strategic.

The GAA have had the good sense to realise that the exhalted and privileged position they had in the old Ireland is in serious danger of not transfering over into the new Ireland. They have mapped out where their clubs and players are versus where the population on the island is, and there is a huge mismatch. GAA clubs are overly represented in rural areas, which are suffering depopulation. The number of clubs now unable to field a regular 15 players is so high that they're looking at enabling competiitons for teams of only 11 or even 9 players. And their sports are under-represented in urban areas, on an island which is urbanising at an accelerated rate. Talk of sharing facilities etc make sense when you can see viability issues coming towards you on the road ahead.

Asides from all that, it's just sensible land usage anyway. Especially in urban areas. Would be ridiculous to expect every field sport in Dubin to have lots of its own individual spaces all over the city - when land vaues are high and housing need off the scale.

[culloty82]

As well as a new astro, the floodlights at Mounthawk Park are also being upgraded before the start of the season.

[nr637]

As well as a new astro, the floodlights at Mounthawk Park are also being upgraded before the start of the season.

Anything on supporters viewing facilities? :confused:

[EalingGreen]

Yes - it's strategic.

The GAA have had the good sense to realise that the exhalted and privileged position they had in the old Ireland is in serious danger of not transfering over into the new Ireland. They have mapped out where their clubs and players are versus where the population on the island is, and there is a huge mismatch. GAA clubs are overly represented in rural areas, which are suffering depopulation. The number of clubs now unable to field a regular 15 players is so high that they're looking at enabling competiitons for teams of only 11 or even 9 players. And their sports are under-represented in urban areas, on an island which is urbanising at an accelerated rate. Talk of sharing facilities etc make sense when you can see viability issues coming towards you on the road ahead.

Asides from all that, it's just sensible land usage anyway. Especially in urban areas. Would be ridiculous to expect every field sport in Dubin to have lots of its own individual spaces all over the city - when land vaues are high and housing need off the scale.May we also assume they're charging rent for when soccer clubs use their facilities? May not amount to much, but still, their own expenses are rising all the time.

[EatYerGreens]

May we also assume they're charging rent for when soccer clubs use their facilities? May not amount to much, but still, their own expenses are rising all the time.

Of course they'd be charging rent. Why wouldn't they?

[Buckett]

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16354567/dundalk-league-ireland-premier-division-fixture-derry-city/

Anyone from Dundalk know what works are ongoing in Oriel, apart from the pitch?

[oriel]

Floodlight upgrades, but with so much work on the pitch, that could only start when the pitch got to final phase due to access etc. Plus I think pitch got delayed with bad weather.

New toilets also but not sure where, and overall a (badly needed) deep clean after pitch and floodlights are complete, this is what I have heard.

[Nesta99]

New stand will be done and dusted by March and the away section will have heated seats, a sunroof and self service beer taps also!

The pitch was to be moved/extended at one end which would have required some additional work. Floodlights are on the list. But tbh its only really the pitch I think they are referring as ongoing works. There is talk of a fan day of a tidy up. Hopefully we can stretch to a few cans of paint before season start.

[Buckett]

Thanks for that. It makes a tough start to the season even harder

[oriel]

New stand will be done and dusted by March and the away section will have heated seats, a sunroof and self service beer taps also!

The pitch was to be moved/extended at one end which would have required some additional work. Floodlights are on the list. But tbh its only really the pitch I think they are referring as ongoing works. There is talk of a fan day of a tidy up. Hopefully we can stretch to a few cans of paint before season start.

Floodlights not just on the list, this is a mandatory licencing requirement for that upgrade, so that is very much part of the works. Plus we won't be able to host games until the lights are upgraded.

[Tomas]

Lost the touch tbf since Im gone from Dublin for good number of years.

1. I have seen a lot of improvement on stadium infrastructure over whole Ireland grounds. Is it still going well?
2. Pats: I believe Richmond Park is kind of limited in space, is there any chance to expand it further by a couple thousands?
3. Bohemians: I was a regular for good few years. Whats the story with that unused stand behing the goal, towards shopping mail, KFC and ****e?

Grounds are full, I see enormous attendance surge in the last few years. Why dont they make stadia tad bigger. Heard there was about 3-4k Bohs fans unable to get a ticket for the derby Shamrock Rovers clash.

[2 Year Contract]

Lost the touch tbf since Im gone from Dublin for good number of years.

1. I have seen a lot of improvement on stadium infrastructure over whole Ireland grounds. Is it still going well?
2. Pats: I believe Richmond Park is kind of limited in space, is there any chance to expand it further by a couple thousands?
3. Bohemians: I was a regular for good few years. Whats the story with that unused stand behing the goal, towards shopping mail, KFC and ****e?

Grounds are full, I see enormous attendance surge in the last few years. Why dont they make stadia tad bigger. Heard there was about 3-4k Bohs fans unable to get a ticket for the derby Shamrock Rovers clash.

On Pats, yeah there’s score to redevelop the stadium. The council are helping the club by buying all the properties on emmett Road, I believe there are only 3 left to buy and if they can’t come to an agreement then a compulsory purchase order will be used. The club are working with the council’s flooding department (exact name escapes me) on looking at what impact the work would have on the Camac river before planning goes in. Last I heard 8k capacity also was the target. Very slow burner and I’d be surprised to see any work completed on it in the next decade.

The stand you’re referring to in Dalymount is owed by the shopping centre and Bohs could do anything with it over decades as a result. Doesn’t matter anyways now with 2026 (allegedly!) being Bohs last year in Dalymount before it gets knocked down, pitch turned 90 degrees and rebuilt to an 8k capacity.

[Buckett]

Grounds are full, I see enormous attendance surge in the last few years. Why dont they make stadia tad bigger.

Great idea, we should make our stadiums bigger

[Tomas]

On Pats, yeah there’s score to redevelop the stadium. The council are helping the club by buying all the properties on emmett Road, I believe there are only 3 left to buy and if they can’t come to an agreement then a compulsory purchase order will be used. The club are working with the council’s flooding department (exact name escapes me) on looking at what impact the work would have on the Camac river before planning goes in. Last I heard 8k capacity also was the target. Very slow burner and I’d be surprised to see any work completed on it in the next decade.

The stand you’re referring to in Dalymount is owed by the shopping centre and Bohs could do anything with it over decades as a result. Doesn’t matter anyways now with 2026 (allegedly!) being Bohs last year in Dalymount before it gets knocked down, pitch turned 90 degrees and rebuilt to an 8k capacity.
Thank you mate. Knew Pats had a trouble to do anything, but if you are as rich as Kellegher or whatever his owners name is, I would think you would prevail?

Did not know Bohs dont even own their own stand (and land around it). Its quite shocking state of affairs.

As for other poster replying, thank you for your superb input.

[EalingGreen]

Of course they'd be charging rent. Why wouldn't they?
The point I was making was that for all this talk of new visions, horizons and attitudes etc, the need for hard cash is as likely a motivation as anything else.

I mean, these amateur games don't pay for themselves :wink:

[Nesta99]

Aye those amateur manager and players and flying lads home from Australia for championship finals. Real amateur stuff! Squeezing serious money out of Stormont, London and Dublin...LoI should have done the whole amateur sport thing.

If I was an AFL side I wouldnt be letting one of my players head off to play GAA week before AFL season training starts, odd one.

[Buckett]

As for other poster replying, thank you for your superb input.

Ah come on, there's 445 pages (mobile) going back nearly 20 years detailing countless stadium improvement plans, some of which materialised, some that failed, mostly due to finances.

[culloty82]

Aye those amateur manager and players and flying lads home from Australia for championship finals. Real amateur stuff! Squeezing serious money out of Stormont, London and Dublin...LoI should have done the whole amateur sport thing.

If I was an AFL side I wouldnt be letting one of my players head off to play GAA week before AFL season training starts, odd one.

In Dingle's case, O'Connor was coming home for Christmas holidays anyway, so it was just an ad hoc arrangement for the semi - the management weren't expecting him to be available for the final, but evidently Geelong recognised that reaching the decider was unlikely to ever reoccur.

[Nesta99]

Yeah and I still wouldnt want him playing another high contact sport if I was his professional club, I still think its is bizzare. It wouldnt have been miles away from Roy Keane being back in Cork and truning out for Cobh in a playoff when a Manchester United player - I know registration rules wouldnt actually allow this but thats AFLs issue or the GAA were players can still be parahuted in to a squad when they happen to be home on holidays. Its far from professional even if allowed. Im surprised that insurance companies didnt kick up a fuss. But that case aside Im sure we all know of case where 'star' players, absent for hard slog of aGAA season and are flown in when a club looks like they could make a final. I certainly saw it in Louth which is big fish in small pond and wont progress to All Ireland club championship latter stages.

[pateen]

New stand will be done and dusted by March and the away section will have heated seats, a sunroof and self service beer taps also!

The pitch was to be moved/extended at one end which would have required some additional work. Floodlights are on the list. But tbh it’s only really the pitch I think they are referring as ongoing works. There is talk of a fan day of a tidy up. Hopefully we can stretch to a few cans of paint before season start.

The heated seats are a great addition but the self service beer taps are an awful waste of money.

[Nesta99]

Well we cant afford staff!