Markets Field

Markets Field is a stadium in Garryowen, Limerick, Ireland.[1] It is currently under redevelopment and will be home to Limerick FC. It will have a capacity of over 3,000 and meet FAI standards.

History

The site was originally a Gaelic Games ground having been used as a venue for Munster championship games in both hurling and Gaelic football. Most of the All-Ireland semi-finals between Munster and Connacht teams also took place there in the early years of the 1900s. It was also the home of Garryowen, a rugby club founded in Limerick in 1884. Garryowen have since moved to new facilities in the Dooradoyle area of Limerick. For most of its life it has been greyhound racing stadium. Greyhound racing ceased on 17 July 2010 with the opening of a new greyhound stadium at Greenpark in the south of the city.[2]

The Markets Field is also the former home of soccer side Limerick F.C. as well as a possible, future Rugby League side known as Limerick Flame.[3] In 1962 Limerick F.C. played Liverpool in a friendly at Markets Field with Liverpool winning 5-3.

Future use

The JP McManus foundation purchased the Market's Field with the intention of allowing Limerick F.C. return there for the 2015 season.[4] During late 2013 Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) redeveloped the pitch, investing €400k in a brand new playing surface.[5] In early 2014 after the granting of planning permission for the ground redevelopment the government announced €1.1m of funding. It is now thought that the newly redeveloped ground will open at the end of 2014,[6] with a capacity of over 3,000.[7] The refurbished main stand will hold 925 spectators including 25 spaces for the disabled.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Limerick (Markets Field) information". Greyhound-data.com. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  2. ↑ "Traps open for the last time at Markets Field". Limerick Post. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Malone, Emmet (27 February 2009). "Limerick FC make Markets Field return a priority". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  4. ↑ http://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/12/31/limericks-markets-field-reopening-within-touching-distance/
  5. ↑ http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2014/0102/ireland/11m-grant-will-help-restoration-of-historic-markets-field-254079.html
  6. ↑ http://limerickvoice.com/index.php/market-fields-development-going-to-plan/
  7. ↑ http://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/12/31/limericks-markets-field-reopening-within-touching-distance/
  8. ↑ http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/community/limerick-s-markets-field-to-return-to-life-in-2014-1-5765938

Coordinates: 52°39′37″N 8°36′52″W / 52.6603°N 8.6145°W