Athletic Grounds
| Athletic Grounds | |
|---|---|
| Páirc Lúthchleas | |
| Location | Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°20′36.15″N 6°39′41.21″W / 54.343375°N 6.6614472°W |
| Renovated | 2010 |
| Owner | Armagh GAA |
| Capacity | 19,500[1] |
| Field dimensions | 143 x 88 m |
The Athletic Grounds is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is the county ground and administrative headquarters of Armagh GAA [2] and is used for both gaelic football and hurling. Following sponsorship from the Morgan Group the stadium is known as the Morgan Athletic Grounds from May 2011 [3].
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[edit] Uses
The stadium is the county ground of Armagh GAA, i.e. the primary stadium in the county and as such is used for higher profile games such as county finals and inter-county matches in the national leagues and Ulster and All-Ireland Championships. The Stadium was used by Pearse Óg GAA Club in Armagh, when they had no ground of their own.
[edit] Features
The ground has a capacity of 19,500.[1]
[edit] Redevelopment
In 2002, it was announced that the Athletic Grounds would receive £8 million from the GAA's Ulster Council to increase its capacity from 5,500 to 25,000.[4] In February 2010 a new round of funding was confirmed for further redevelopment. This funding consisted of £800,000 from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, EU400,000 from the GAA authorities in Croke Park, EU100,000 from the Ulster Council, and £60,000 from Armagh District Council. This was a total of £1.3m in grant-aid. An estimated £700,000 would have to be raised or borrowed by the Armagh county board.[5]
In December 2010 it was announced that naming rights for the stadium would be sold to raise additional funds for the refurbishment project.[6]
As of 2011 the redevelopment has progressed to the addition of terracing all the way around, a roof over the west terrace, and installation of floodlighting. The completed new stand includes new changing rooms, administration facilities, a treatment suite and referee's area, and additional turnstiles and improved access for disabled spectators.[6][7]
The stadium was officially reopened on February 5th 2011 for a National Football League game between Armagh and Dublin.[1]
[edit] Transport
Since a railway line no longer runs through the city of Armagh, the stadium is only accessible by road. It is close to the main Armagh to Monaghan road.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Thousands for Armagh as £5.2m stadium opens". Ulster Gazette. February 3rd, 2011. http://www.ulstergazette.co.uk/articles/news/18993/thousands-for-armagh-as-5-2m-stadium-opens/. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
- ^ "Armagh". Ulster Council GAA. http://ulster.gaa.ie/county/armagh/. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ "Morgan Athletic Grounds". Armagh GAA. http://www.armagh-gaa.com/My-Armagh/News/PHOTO--Morgan-Athletic-Grounds.aspx. Retrieved June 08, 2011.
- ^ "Ulster GAA unveil £100m four-year plan to upgrade grounds". 4NI NI News (30 January 2002). http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=10792. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ Campbell, John (February 23, 2010). "Armagh's stadium dream becomes reality". Belfast Telegraph. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/armaghs-stadium-dream-becomes-reality-14693828.html#ixzz1H53YEHVJ. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "Armagh to sell naming rights for new Athletic Grounds". BBC Sport. December 13th, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/9281721.stm. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
- ^ "Athletic Grounds". Armagh GAA. http://www.armagh-gaa.com/My-Armagh/Athletic-Grounds.aspx. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
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