Corrigan Park
Pairc Uí Chorragáin | |
 | |
| Location | Whiterock Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Owner | St John's GAC |
| Capacity | 5,500 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1926 |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Renovated | 2001 |
Corrigan Park is a GAA ground on the Whiterock Road in West Belfast that served as the main venue for Gaelic Games in Belfast until the opening of Casement Park in 1953. It is named in honour of Sean Corrigan, mentor of the Brian Óg club who were Antrim’s first hurling champions. It is designated as a ground with a capacity of more than 5,000 by Belfast City Council.[1]
Current
It is home to St John's GAC. It regularly hosts Ulster club[2] and colleges matches at second[3] and third[4] level. Members of this club should not express political views.
History
Championship fixtures
Corrigan Park was associated with the run of the Antrim hurling team to the final of the 1943 All Ireland championship, Corrigan Park staged the quarter final in which Antrim beat Galway and the semi-final in which Antrim beat Kilkenny, both unexpected results at the time. Its tight, confined space was regarded as being advantageous to the home side in those matches.[5]
Football
Among the major football championship matches it staged were the Cavan-Antrim Ulster championship semi-finals of 1930, 1931 and 1949. Its last major football championship match was Antrim v Donegal in the Ulster championship of 1952.
Camogie
Corrigan Park staged the All Ireland Camogie finals of 1944, 1946, and 1947, two of which were won by Antrim, and also several of Antrim’s semi-finals. It became known as the home of camogie during this period.[6]
References
- ^ Belfast City Council Health & Safety
- ^ http://www.independent.ie/sport/mcconville-goals-decisive-430028.html 1998 Oct 12 McConville Goals Decisive]
- ^ 1991 Ulster colleges final
- ^ Sigerson 2004 Queen's Univ 1-7 Sligo IT report
- ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). Illustrated History of the GAA. Dublin, Ireland: Gill & MacMillan. p. 250.
- ^ The Evolution of the GAA by Donal McAnallen (Ulster Historical Foundation 2009) ISBN 978-1-903688-83-0
External links
- [1] St John's website