Healy Park
Encyclopedia
Healy Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association
stadium in Omagh
, County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. It is the second largest stadium in Northern Ireland
with a modern capacity of approximately 18,500. It is the home of Omagh St. Enda's
and the Tyrone
Gaelic football
teams. It is located on the Gortin Road and is approximately a 15 minute walk from the town centre. The Hogan Stand
magazine said the stadium "is now recognised as one of the premier GAA venues in the country."
club purchased 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of land at Lisnelly located near the Gortin Road. By 1968 the club had raised enough money to start construction of the new stadium. The park was eventually opened on 17 September 1972, by former GAA president Alf Murray and on the 19th of October 1980, the new park was dedicated to Micheal Healy. The two years between 1980 and 1982 saw the fruitation of the new clubrooms and social centre at Healy Park, which added further to the infrastructure of Healy Park. 1994 saw the terracing added to three sides of the pitch.
In April 2006, Healy Park became the first Gaelic football
stadium in Ulster
to have floodlight
ing installed.
A modern Press Box and Control Tower was unvealed at Healy Park for the Tyrone Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday 14 October 2007 between Dromore St. Dympna's
and Coalisland Na Fianna
. Also unvealed was new changing rooms and disabled facilities. They now match facilities of Premiership soccer grounds in England.
have unveiled plans for a second covered stand at Healy Park as the board feels it is time for additional covered and seated accommodation. Work has already started on the second phase of a £5m redevelopment scheme.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
stadium in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is the second largest stadium in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
with a modern capacity of approximately 18,500. It is the home of Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Their home ground is Healy Park which was opened in 1972....
and the Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
teams. It is located on the Gortin Road and is approximately a 15 minute walk from the town centre. The Hogan Stand
Hogan Stand
Hogan Stand is a Gaelic games magazine, published monthly and distributed throughout Ireland. The magazine is named after the main stand in Croke Park, where the trophies are presented to the winning captains. It is the most widely distributed Gaelic games magazine in the country at present and was...
magazine said the stadium "is now recognised as one of the premier GAA venues in the country."
History
In early 1962, Omagh St. Enda'sOmagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Their home ground is Healy Park which was opened in 1972....
club purchased 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of land at Lisnelly located near the Gortin Road. By 1968 the club had raised enough money to start construction of the new stadium. The park was eventually opened on 17 September 1972, by former GAA president Alf Murray and on the 19th of October 1980, the new park was dedicated to Micheal Healy. The two years between 1980 and 1982 saw the fruitation of the new clubrooms and social centre at Healy Park, which added further to the infrastructure of Healy Park. 1994 saw the terracing added to three sides of the pitch.
Redevelopment
Work began in September 2001 to build a new 5,000 an all-seated covered stand with a capacity of 5,000. The stand was opened in 2004.In April 2006, Healy Park became the first Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
stadium in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
to have floodlight
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
ing installed.
A modern Press Box and Control Tower was unvealed at Healy Park for the Tyrone Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday 14 October 2007 between Dromore St. Dympna's
Dromore St. Dympna's
Dromore St. Dympna's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Dromore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.The club was established in 1933....
and Coalisland Na Fianna
Coalisland Na Fianna
Coalisland Fianna is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Coalisland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.-Honours:*Tyrone Senior Football Championship Winners: 1904/05, 1907/08, 1928, 1930, 1946, 1955, 1989, 1990, 2010....
. Also unvealed was new changing rooms and disabled facilities. They now match facilities of Premiership soccer grounds in England.
Future plans
Tyrone GAATyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
have unveiled plans for a second covered stand at Healy Park as the board feels it is time for additional covered and seated accommodation. Work has already started on the second phase of a £5m redevelopment scheme.