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Walsh Park (Irish: Páirc Breathnach) is a GAA stadium in Waterford, Ireland named after Willie Walsh, a well-known referee and long time campaigner for Gaelic games in Waterford.[2] It is one of the two homes of the Waterford Gaelic football and hurling teams, the other being Fraher Field in Dungarvan. The two grounds are rivals for important games. The current Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has stated that "(T)here's this endless battle between Walsh Park and Fraher Field, a political battle almost. If one field gets a game, the other has to get the next one. Dungarvan was a nice field, but my personal preference was always Walsh Park, because I felt it had more of the feel of a fortress."[3]
Páirc an Bhreathnaigh | |
 | |
| Location | Slievekeale Road, Waterford, County Waterford, X91 YT10, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°15′17.60″N 7°7′40.02″W / 52.2548889°N 7.1277833°W |
| Public transit | Waterford railway station Arbour Road bus stop Slievekeale Road bus stop |
| Owner | Robert Starken |
| Capacity | 11,046[1] |
| Field size | 142 x 80 m |
Walsh Park is named after Willie Walsh, who refereed many All-Ireland SFC and SHC finals, including the 1916 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.[4]
Redevelopment
editThe stadium was set to undergo a €7m redevelopment to result in an increased capacity of 16,500 by 2020.[5] However, delays because of COVID-19 and increased costs mean completion is not expected until 2023.[6]
Phase 1 of the redevelopment was completed by the end of 2023. Works were completed on a new uncovered northern stand with a capacity of 3,400, along with the refurbishment of the existing southern stand. The Waterford senior hurling team played their home games in the 2023 Munster Senior Hurling Championship at Semple Stadium due to the redevelopments.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Waterford looking forward to home comforts after 16 years away". RTE. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Official Waterford GAA Website". Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Davy; Hogan, Vincent (26 October 2018). At All Costs. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 9780717179589 – via Google Books.
- ^ O'Connell, Cian (9 December 2016). "1916 All Ireland referees remembered".
- ^ Ryan, Eoin (1 March 2019). "2020 vision: Waterford hopeful Walsh work will be swift". RTÉ News. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Eoin (9 January 2023). "No home games for Waterford hurlers due to Walsh Park work". RTÉ News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Waterford GAA eye further expansion as Walsh Park reopens". RTE Sport. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
External links
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