Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan (centre) with Inspector Paul McGee (left) and Superintendent David Kelly (right) at the Aviva Stadium
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15 Nov 2025
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15 Nov 2025
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MacCumhaill Park's reseeded grass has begun to shoot nicely in the last number of days. PHOTOS: Chris Doherty
Grass sown recently at MacCumhaill Park has begun to shoot as work continues on the home of Donegal GAA.
The resurfacing of the ground is part of a €500,000 overall redevelopment which began in April. The project also includes improvements to floodlighting, drainage, and accessibility.
The old playing surface at Mac Cumhaill Park, long known for its undulations, has been completely levelled, with the exception of a slight crown down the centre, from goalmouth to goalmouth, to help rainfall run off into main drains along either sideline.
A herringbone network of smaller drains will feed into these arterial channels, which discharge into the River Finn.
Expert guidance was sought from several quarters, including Croke Park’s head groundsman, Stuart Wilson, agronomist Ian McClements who has advised on playing surfaces from GAA to golf and soccer, and Kilcar's Declan Gallagher of Ocean Knowledge whose firm manages the pitches at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.
Contractor William Coyle of Buncrana-based Pitch Dimensions moved onsite in early August.
The first step was to kill the old grass to allow for proper levelling and drainage. Heavy plant machinery then moved in to carry out the ground works necessary to dig the drains and lay the new playing surface.
Floodlight upgrades are also underway, with new energy-efficient LED bulbs being installed where the brightness can be adjusted for training, matches, or television broadcast standard.
Toilet facilities and perimeter walls are being improved as part of the wider redevelopment.
The redevelopment was part funded by a €500,000 sports capital grant from the Department of Sport, with the GAA's Central and Ulster council's also making a contribution towards the floodlight upgrade.The ground will not, however, be ready in time for Donegal’s NFL schedule and it’s also expected to not be available should Donegal get a home draw in the Ulster SFC.
"Donegal's National League games will be shared between O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny and Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon and the likelihood of the MacCumhaill Park pitch being ready to host a championship game is slim at this stage," chairperson Mary Coughlan recently explained..
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