New-look Fr Tierney Park to host three championship games this weekend

After a two-year construction period there is a real air of excitement in Ballyshannon and the surrounding areas as this weekend looms when Aodh Ruadh will play no less than three important and eagerly anticipated championship games on the newly built ‘Croke-Park’ size Fr Tierney Park.

A major undertaking, the playing field element alone has involved an expenditure of close to €250,000 with a further €.5 million euro invested in new spectator terraces on the town and hospital sides of the grounds.

The new sand-based playing field, built by Prunty Contracts, is a worthy and frankly stunning successor to its storied predecessor. 

The original Fr Tierney Park made history when it was opened in 1954 by then President of the Ulster Council, Armagh man, Alf Murray. In 1954 it was then the only fully enclosed football field in the county. 

Since it opened the Fr Tierney Park has played a huge part in the GAA life of the northwest over many decades. A traditional clay pitch laid on a bed of limestone, it had deteriorated over the years and maintenance was complicated by the underlying rock and the absence of a drainage system.

By a neat coincidence, another Armagh man, Jarlath Burns, who will by then be serving as President of the GAA, confirmed on the day of his election to that office, that he will happily perform the formalities at the official opening of the ground, due to take place in 2024.

Fr Tierney Park Committee members Philip McLoone, Tom Daly, Patsy Kilgallon and Conal Gallagher

But this Saturday and Sunday will be what the marketing executives often refer to as ‘a soft launch’ as there is still more work to be done, including the installation, finance permitting, of some 600 new seats in the existing stand. 

Works will continue over the coming months to advance the project further in anticipation of the upcoming NFL programme when inter-county football will return. This will focus on, among other things, the upgrading of the spectator stand, built in 1981.

A venue which has consistently hosted Donegal inter-county league games through the decades and has been graced by club, county, and provincial legends, it will always be a field of dreams and memories; this weekend Aodh Ruadh teams are aiming to make some new memories as it hosts its first competitive games.

Aodh Ruadh reserves play Glenfin at 4pm this Saturday followed by the Michael Murphy Sports sponsored Senior football championship tie between Aodh Ruadh and Glenfin at 5.30pm. 

At 10.30 am on Sunday it is the turn of the Aodh Ruadh's senior ladies’ team to take on a formidable Glenfin side in the senior championship. 

While all three games will generate great interest and attract local and visiting support, there’s also great interest too from neighbouring clubs in Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Tyrone which will bolster attendances as many are expected to use the weekend action at the Fr Tierney Park as an opportunity to view the new playing surface and other works which have been completed.

The development of the new Fr Tierney Park has been led by former Ulster Council GAA President Tom Daly, who is chairman of the Aodh Ruadh GAA club’s Park/Development Committee. The members of that committee led by Tom, are David McLoone, Philip McLoone, Patsy Kilgannon, Conal Gallagher and Michael Daly.

“This weekend is an important milestone, one of many we have reached with this project. While the new playing surface has garnered much attention, the works on providing new terracing and the structural work on the stand are also hugely significant, and indeed costly.

“There has been wonderful support for the development project from the local community, club officers and club members, while the Aodh Ruadh/Ballyshannon diaspora across the world have enthusiastically backed this development.

“We are indebted to all who have supported this effort. It’s important to point out that we have some major work to finish, and we look forward to completing that work during 2024 to mark the 70th anniversary of the original opening.

“There’s a real sense of pride knowing that all our facilities, at the Fr Tierney Park and Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh, are going to be enjoyed by generations of men and women for decades to come,” he said.

The Committee have pursued several innovative fund-raising projects to provide the capital and cash-flow for the project and plan launching a further drive for funds in the near future. 

Just over three years ago the Park/Development Committee drew up an ambitious plan to rebuild the playing surface as the central part of an overarching ‘Project 2024’ to mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of the original Fr Tierney Park.

A lush sports grass mix sown into a Lough Neagh sourced sand base rests atop a labyrinth of irrigation systems ensuring that it will remain well-drained and match ready.

Indeed, in recognition of climate-change and our fast-changing weather conditions, provision for a sprinkler system has also been made to ensure the green, green grass will remain just that!

From the air, as our main photograph so perfectly illustrates, the new 145m x 87m Fr Tierney Park surface with ample run-off space, is indeed a match for its spectacular location.

A reminder – on Saturday the action gets underway at 4pm/5.30pm on Saturday with the ladies’ championship game on Sunday at 10.30am.