Myself and a few friends were talking recently about all the different grounds we had visited and which was our favourite. Of all the county grounds in Ireland the only one I think I havent been to is Nolan Park in Kilkenny, though there may be a few others. Has anyone actually been to all 32 grounds?
My favourite ground is Breffni Park and my least favourite is Pearse Park.
I love Markievicz park, I just love the way its developed now and its got a cracking atmosphere, mighting be the biggest but its got great character. I hear there are further plans, regarding a suite for journos and corporate etc..
My favourite ground outside Sligo would be Portloaise of the regional ones, nothing compares to Croke Park. Worst was Aughrim by a mile but we got a good result that day :).
Was in Pearse Park the last day against Antrim and thought they did a fine job with it. Breffni Ive been to a few times and I like it, when full would carry some atmosphere.
I would love to go to Thurles, Killarney, Pairc ui Choaimh, and yes Clones. Never been to any of them as Sligo dont play there too often. Tipp the feckers brought us to ardfinnan extra 40mins after thurles, kerry to tralee but took a bit off the journey, cork cant remember playing them in the nfl. Played monaghan in scotstown...id probably have to go as a nuetral to get to these grounds and that would no bad thing.
nowlan park is one of my favourites. Love parnell park as well. Can't beat the cut and thrust of Semple Stadium either.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh is my least favourite - a complete dump.
I Like Casement as well since they did it up. Its a bit Like Nowlan Park -fabulous surface.
Sligonian are you for real, Markievicz park ??? We have terrible memories of the place :D
Should have added to the original post that you cant have your own ground as a favourite, otherwise we`ll have a lot of posts telling us how great Omagh and the Athletic Grounds are.
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 06, 2009, 11:46:28 PM
Myself and a few friends were talking recently about all the different grounds we had visited and which was our favourite. Of all the county grounds in Ireland the only one I think I havent been to is Nolan Park in Kilkenny, though there may be a few others. Has anyone actually been to all 32 grounds?
My favourite ground is Breffni Park and my least favourite is Pearse Park.
What do you consider the country ground in Cork?
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but I am sure you know better.
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 07, 2009, 12:06:56 PM
Sligonian are you for real, Markievicz park ??? We have terrible memories of the place :D
Should have added to the original post that you cant have your own ground as a favourite, otherwise we`ll have a lot of posts telling us how great Omagh and the Athletic Grounds are.
Good one :D, I know man, I couldnt resist my pride in the park but i did say my favourite outside ;)....what county are you from?
Quote from: Gnevin on June 07, 2009, 12:51:41 PM
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 06, 2009, 11:46:28 PM
Myself and a few friends were talking recently about all the different grounds we had visited and which was our favourite. Of all the county grounds in Ireland the only one I think I havent been to is Nolan Park in Kilkenny, though there may be a few others. Has anyone actually been to all 32 grounds?
My favourite ground is Breffni Park and my least favourite is Pearse Park.
What do you consider the country ground in Cork?
I would agree with Trevor Hill, IMO it would be Páirc Uí Caoimh over Páirc Uí Rinn, it has a lot higher capacity, something like 40,000?? Also its more in the city than Páirc Uí Rinn which is out Blackrock/Mahon direction, and Páirc Uí Caoimh is closer to the banks of the Lee!!! :D
havent been to the following county grounds
Limerick
Clare
Kerry
Wicklow
Galway
Carlow
Kilkenny
Quote from: SLIGONIAN on June 07, 2009, 01:39:40 PM
what county are you from?
Down, we have very bad memories of your ground.
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 06, 2009, 11:46:28 PM
Myself and a few friends were talking recently about all the different grounds we had visited and which was our favourite. Of all the county grounds in Ireland the only one I think I havent been to is Nolan Park in Kilkenny, though there may be a few others. Has anyone actually been to all 32 grounds?
My favourite ground is Breffni Park and my least favourite is Pearse Park.
Excellent venue.
Armagh's Athletic Gounds has to get a special mention for the broken glass, beer cans etc that always littered the ground BEFORE the crowd even arrived!
Quote from: Over the Bar on June 07, 2009, 08:30:03 PM
Armagh's Athletic Gounds has to get a special mention for the broken glass, beer cans etc that always littered the ground BEFORE the crowd even arrived!
Have things not improved since the ground was redeveloped?
As a Down man I have good memories of the Athletic grounds, going there as All Ireland champions in 92 was nice, its been a happy ground for us.
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 07, 2009, 09:10:50 PM
Quote from: Over the Bar on June 07, 2009, 08:30:03 PM
Armagh's Athletic Gounds has to get a special mention for the broken glass, beer cans etc that always littered the ground BEFORE the crowd even arrived!
Have things not improved since the ground was redeveloped?
As a Down man I have good memories of the Athletic grounds, going there as All Ireland champions in 92 was nice, its been a happy ground for us.
Ignore OTB, everybody else does.
All 5 in Connacht plus Ruislip and Gaelic Park, NY.
Ulster: Been to Donegal, Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan. Never to Derry, Armagh or Monaghan's.
Munster: Been to Clare, Kerry - not been to the others (have to get to Thurles some time soon).
Leinster: Been to Meath, Dublin, Wexford, Kildare, Laois, Kilkenny, Longford. Have yet to visit Louth, Offaly, Wicklow, Westmeath.
So 21/32 or 23/34 depending on how you view it.
Favourites would be Fitzgerald Stadium, Nowlan Park and I really like Pearse Park in Longford since its been done up.
(http://mayogaablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/mchale-park.jpg)
McHale Park looking good.
Counties whos County Grounds I'v been too.
Connacht: Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo - Favourate - McHale Park, second favourate - Tuam, least favourate - Pearse.
Munster: Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick - Favourate - Cusack Park, Ennis
Ulster: Donegal, Moneghan, Tyrone, Cavan, Derry - Favourate - Breffni, Cavan Town
Leinster: Dublin, Westmeath, Laois, Kildare, Longford, Carlow - Favourate - Croke Park & Parnell
I'v been to grounds in Wicklow & Offaly but not the County Grounds.
QuoteI really like Pearse Park in Longford since its been done up.
Now there's a sensible man, Trevor.
Breffni is a nice ground alright but its a hoor to get out of.
I like Pairc Esler - good atmosphere in it.
Quote from: thebandit on June 08, 2009, 09:57:21 AM
Breffni is a nice ground alright but its a hoor to get out of.
Since the Cavan Bypass opened, there are now several handy enough ways to get out of Cavan after a game, if you study a few maps beforehand (or have a SatNav).
Been to every major ground in the country except Fitgerald Stadium in Killarney ( though I have passed by it).
Fond memories of travelling through Thurles one Xmas in the mid 1990s, and stopping a wee man in the town to ask him directions to Semple Stadium. He asked me to open the car door, then jumped in and took us to the stadium opened it up (turned out he was the groundsman) and gave us a personal guided tour. ;D
Favourite grounds include Casement Park and Navan, not keen on Clones nor Omagh. Also always liked the gound in Irvinestown, which sadly no longer seems to be used for inter county games nowadays, mainly bacause Armagh put 5 goals past Tyrone there in 1987! ;D
Also the advances made in ground development are breathtaking. Barely just over 20 years ago,I remember sitting in a car with an uncle (who sadly is now deceased) of a prominent Tyrone player, at the top of the now terraced side of Casement Park, watching Antrim draw with Tyrone in the Championship. It was a green hill in those days. Also can recall Armagh beating Monaghan in an Ulster semi final at O'Neill Park in Dungannon! Can you imagine watching any Ulster Championship game nowadays from a car, or O'Neill Park in Dungannon getting a championship fixture?
Counties whos County Grounds I'v been to. (never been)
Connacht: Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo
Munster: Kerry, Tipperary (trip to tipp ;)) (Cork, Limerick, Clare, Waterford,) -
Ulster: Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone, Cavan, Derry, Antrim, Fermanagh, Down, Armagh.
Leinster: Dublin, Westmeath, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Meath, Longford, Louth, Wexford, (Wicklow, Kilkenny, Carlow )
Quote from: mackers on June 07, 2009, 09:25:40 PM
Quote from: Trevor Hill on June 07, 2009, 09:10:50 PM
Quote from: Over the Bar on June 07, 2009, 08:30:03 PM
Armagh's Athletic Gounds has to get a special mention for the broken glass, beer cans etc that always littered the ground BEFORE the crowd even arrived!
Have things not improved since the ground was redeveloped?
As a Down man I have good memories of the Athletic grounds, going there as All Ireland champions in 92 was nice, its been a happy ground for us.
Ignore OTB, everybody else does.
He really is a tosser. His obsession with all things armagh is quite complimentary in a perverse way.
Havent been to County Grounds in Tyrone, Antrim or Wexford.
Favourite apart from Hyde is Breffni Park( although we havent done too well there of late) a real natural amphitheatre created by them misty Breffni drumlins.
We're in the same Division of the NFL as Antrim and Wexford next season so maybe one or both of them will be visited.
Tyrone then the following year in Division 2 as they begin their inevitable slide down the rankings.
Quote from: T Fearon on June 08, 2009, 11:28:03 AM
Also always liked the gound in Irvinestown, which sadly no longer seems to be used for inter county games nowadays, mainly bacause Armagh put 5 goals past Tyrone there in 1987! ;D
Monaghan played Fermanagh there in a McKenna Cup game about 3 years ago. It's like a place that time forgot - had to believe it ever held Championship games.
Haven't been to many outside Ulster but such is life as a Fermanagh fan.
Ulster: Ballybofey, Celtic Park, Casement Park, Pairc Esler, Athletic Grounds, Clontibret/Clones, Breffni :'(, Brewster, Healy Park.
Leinster: Parnell Park, Navan.
Connacht: Markeivicz.
Munster: Ennis.
Quote from: magpie seanie on June 07, 2009, 11:41:01 PM
All 5 in Connacht plus Ruislip and Gaelic Park, NY.
Ulster: Been to Donegal, Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan. Never to Derry, Armagh or Monaghan's.
Munster: Been to Clare, Kerry - not been to the others (have to get to Thurles some time soon).
Leinster: Been to Meath, Dublin, Wexford, Kildare, Laois, Kilkenny, Longford. Have yet to visit Louth, Offaly, Wicklow, Westmeath.
So 21/32 or 23/34 depending on how you view it.
Favourites would be Fitzgerald Stadium, Nowlan Park and I really like Pearse Park in Longford since its been done up.
So i see Carlow doesn't exist as a county in your eyes! ;D
Anyway for me it's:
Leinster: All 12 of them
Munster: Limerick, Tipp, Waterford, Clare but not been to Cork or Kerrys grounds
Connacht: Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon but never to a match in Galway or Sligo's grounds
Ulster: Just been to Casement Pk and Breffni Pk...all the rest still await me!
Been to Ruislip too, if that counts!
So 22/33 :)
Favourite is probably Wexford Park, lovely ground and great pitch. Always enjoy watching games there.
Worst is Aughrim, a kip of a ground. Hate the place with a passion!
Stevecw - sincere apologies for missing out on Carlow and Dr Cullen Park. Can't beleive I left ye out. Missed any of Sligo's recent trips there unfortunately.
Quote from: magpie seanie on June 07, 2009, 11:41:01 PM
All 5 in Connacht plus Ruislip and Gaelic Park, NY.
I played in Ruislip, but I havent been to Gaelic Park, New York.
L:Dublin, Meath, Carlow, Wexford, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Westmeath, Longford,
Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo
Monaghan, Fermanagh, Antrim, Down, Derry
Kerry, Cork,
Sorry clicked return too fast there before I finished! anyway, no matter, fav ground is Fitzgerald stadium and worst is deff Clones. Hate when we draw in Clones, nightmare to get and out of.. if on one side and the sun shines, blind for the game :(
In Leinster all of them, quite like Longford and Kilkenny, can't abide going to Wexford and wouldn't be the biggest lover of Newbridge either. Aughrim is a lovely venue if it wasn't such a pain in the head to get to.
I've been to Walsh Park but not Fraher Field in Waterford (which is technically the county ground there?) and all the others in Munster, obviously Thurles wins by a country mile.
In Connacht have been to Carrick, Ros, Pearse (but not Tuam) and Ruislip, of those Ruislip wins since I had some great days there when I was in London.
Not that many in Ulster - have been to Clones, Casement, Breffni, and MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, but again I'm not sure what the county ground is in Donegal so I don't know if that counts. Casement gets the nod for me out of those.
Overall though, it is hard to beat going to Thurles.
Quoteobviously Thurles wins by a country mile.
Obviously? I actually prefer Killarney to Thurles, especially for a weekend.
Quote from: AZOffaly on June 09, 2009, 09:07:09 PM
Quoteobviously Thurles wins by a country mile.
Obviously? I actually prefer Killarney to Thurles, especially for a weekend.
Killarney for the away trip certainly, but I was going on the basis of assessing the stadia here rather than the extras of going to a game there. That said, I suppose it's a bit unfair to count travelling and parking then if that's the case.