Cusack Park (Ennis)

Cusack Park
Páirc Uí Chíosóg
Cusack Park is located in Ennis
Cusack Park
Cusack Park
Location within Ennis
Cusack Park is located in Ireland
Cusack Park
Cusack Park
Cusack Park (Ireland)
LocationFrancis St, Ennis, County Clare, V95 YP98, Ireland
Coordinates52°50′46.73″N 8°58′43.18″W / 52.8463139°N 8.9786611°W / 52.8463139; -8.9786611
Public transitEnnis railway station
Dunnes Stores Friars Walk bus stop (Bus Éireann routes 343, 348)
OwnerClare GAA
Capacity20,100
Capacity history
  • 27,846[1]
    14,864 (2011–2017)
    19,000 (2018–2023)[2]
    20,100 (2024–present)[3]
Field size145 x 90 m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1936[4]
Renovated2018
Website
clare.gaa.ie/cusack-park/

Cusack Park (Páirc Uí Chíosóg in Irish) is a GAA stadium in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. It is the primary home of the Clare Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie and Peil na mBan teams at all grades.

Named after the founder of the GAA, Michael Cusack, the ground had an original capacity of about 28,000 (mostly terraced), but following a 2011 safety review, the certified capacity was reduced to 14,864.[5]

Three sides of the ground are terraced - the two areas behind the goals and one terraced length of the pitch which is also covered.

In 2006 there were media reports of substantial offers from property developers to buy the stadium and relocate it to a new 42,000 capacity site outside the town centre.[6][7] However, by 2009 it appeared unlikely given the recent Celtic Tiger crash that this would happen.[8][9] Between 2009–12, Clare GAA invested over €500,000 in refurbishment works including pitch drainage and fencing around the pitch.[5] In 2015 a major renovation started, this included the demolition and re-erection of the main stand and construction of a new entrance/exit at the north side of the stadium. Once completed in late 2017 the official capacity was increased to 19,000 people for the start of the 2018 season.[2]

Clare vs Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship, June 2018

On 17 June 2018 the stadium was completely sold out for the first time since re-opening for the visit of local rivals Limerick GAA[10][11]

The knockout stages of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship and the Clare Senior Football Championship are held annually in the stadium.

  1. ^ "Cusack Park's capacity to increase". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Seats scarce for Clare's first home Munster SHC game since 1997". RTE. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Cusack Park capacity increased for Clare vs Limerick Munster hurling clash". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. ^ "KILLINAN END - Ennis' storied history". Nenagh Guardian. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b Exclusive gaa teams up with council, Clare People
  6. ^ "Sale of the century".
  7. ^ Access My Date [dead link‍]
  8. ^ McGee, Eugene (19 January 2009). "Recession may prove timely saviour of GAA". Independent. Ireland. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Cork to stand firm on Rule 42 for new arena".
  10. ^ "Cusack Park Packed". Clare Echo. 10 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Tickets Snapped Up For Crucial Munster Derby". Limerick Leader. 10 June 2019.