O'Connor Park
Encyclopedia
O'Connor Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association
stadium in Tullamore
, County Offaly
, Ireland
. It is one of the principal grounds of the Offaly GAA
Gaelic football
and hurling
teams. The ground was opened in 1934. and currently has a capacity of 20,000.
The ground currently consists of a covered stand on one side of the pitch, with terracing on the other three. A stand was built in 1991, but replaced by the current structure in 2006. The stand (currently known as the 'New Stand' pending decision on a new name) was completed in 2006. It seats 7,000 people and also includes a press box and a special section for wheelchair users. Its 10 sections are each split horizontally with green, white and gold colour seats (the colours of Offaly GAA), with the words '' (the Irish
for Offaly) spelt out across the stand's white section. At the same time as the stand was being constructed, improvements were also made in the terracing on the opposite side of the pitch, allowing it to comfortably hold 8,000 people. Plans are ongoing to further develop the ground and provide floodlights, improved dressing rooms, toilet facilities and a TV camera room on the terrace side of the ground.
The ground is owned by Tullamore GAA club, but was leased out by the Offaly County Board for 35 years in 2002 for use in inter-county matches.
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 Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is one of the principal grounds of the Offaly GAA
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
teams. The ground was opened in 1934. and currently has a capacity of 20,000.
The ground currently consists of a covered stand on one side of the pitch, with terracing on the other three. A stand was built in 1991, but replaced by the current structure in 2006. The stand (currently known as the 'New Stand' pending decision on a new name) was completed in 2006. It seats 7,000 people and also includes a press box and a special section for wheelchair users. Its 10 sections are each split horizontally with green, white and gold colour seats (the colours of Offaly GAA), with the words '' (the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
for Offaly) spelt out across the stand's white section. At the same time as the stand was being constructed, improvements were also made in the terracing on the opposite side of the pitch, allowing it to comfortably hold 8,000 people. Plans are ongoing to further develop the ground and provide floodlights, improved dressing rooms, toilet facilities and a TV camera room on the terrace side of the ground.
The ground is owned by Tullamore GAA club, but was leased out by the Offaly County Board for 35 years in 2002 for use in inter-county matches.