Pearse Park (Longford)

History

The grounds were formerly named the Gaelic Grounds and prior to playing in this location, Longford played its games at Longford Park (later the Greyhound Stadium). Longford moved from Longford Park to the current location in 1933 but the site didn't officially open as Pearse Park until April 1937. The ground was named Pearse Park after Patrick Pearse who had been executed during the Easter Rising.

On 4 June 2006, Dublin defeated Longford by two points at Pearse Park, the last time Dublin have played a Championship match away from Croke Park until they played Laois in Nowlan Park in 2016. The West Stand was closed from 2015 to 2018. As a result, Longford considered plans to leave Pearse Park after GAA officials removed their home advantage for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on health and safety grounds.

In 2017, Longford made plans to redevelop Pearse Park. However, there was a planning objection by local resident and former Longford GAA goalkeeper Liam Madden. Madden stated he would drop his opposition if Longford met his demands. He requested that he be made county captain of Longford and be able to lead the team out to the theme of the television series Bonanza. He also requested that Longford change their county colours to red and black to match Longford Town F.C.'s and that the Gaelic Athletic Association give him an Irish language apology for banning him from GAA as a result of him watching an association football match in 1969 under Rule 27 (which was abolished in 1971). Longford County Council approved the €2.5 million redevelopment, with Madden originally planning to appeal to An Bord Pleanála but dropped his appeal after receiving a hand written apology in Irish from the GAA and €100 in compensation. The development was completed in 2018 and the first match held was a Leinster Senior Football Championship game against Meath, with a reduced capacity of 6,000. Following completion of works in recent years, the capacity was increased to 10,000.

References

References

1. (2020-03-10). "Bus Éireann". Buseireann.ie.
2. (2020-03-10). "Bus Éireann". Buseireann.ie.
3. (2020-01-11). "O'Byrne Cup: Longford hand Farrell defeat in first game". RTE.
4. "Longford chief wants Dubs forced to leave capital". Irish Examiner.
5. "GAA History - Longford County Grounds".
6. "Longford are considering the prospect of leaving Fortress Pearse Park". Balls.ie.
7. "#ThrowbackThursday: Remembering the Longford All-Ireland Junior Championship winning heroes of 1937". Longford Leader.
8. "In the name of the forefathers". Irish Independent.
9. (2015-08-05). "The Pearse Park Stand in Longford will require complete demolition and re-building". Off The Ball.
10. "Longford facing €2m cost to fix Pearse Park subsidence". Irish Independent.
11. "Longford Man Will Remove Planning Objection On Pearse Park Redevelopment If Made County Captain". Balls.ie.
12. (2017-12-19). "Nightmare over for Longford architect Liam Madden as GAA apologises for suspending him in 1969". Longford Leader.
13. (2018-01-11). "Pearse Park expected to be ready for Meath game". Meath Chronicle.