The storied history of 100 years of the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick

ONE HUNDRED years ago, what is the current day TUS Gaelic Grounds, started out as a dream.
It was 1926 when the field was first purchased by Limerick GAA, following a campaign led by some visionary individuals, most notably William P Clifford (pictured right) of Fedamore, who was then serving his first year as the ninth president of the GAA.
Officially opened in 1928, it wasn’t long before the stadium became one of the premier sporting facilities in the country, and very soon it was hosting major championship games. Throughout the renowned Mackey-inspired hurling era of the 1930s and 1940s, and in the decades that followed, the stadium continued to grow. In 1958, the original Hogan Stand at Croke Park was dismantled and shipped to Limerick, where it was reassembled at a venue already well accustomed to hosting crowds in excess of 50,000 people.

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Just three years later, in 1961, the stadium hosted its largest ever attendance when over 70,000 people crammed into the ground to watch the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final between Tipperary and Cork. It is said that nearly 10,000 of those who gained entry did so without paying, as the expectant throng broke down the gates in their eagerness to get in.
Such was the crush that the pipe band scheduled to entertain the crowd that day could not make its way onto the pitch to perform.
Outside of Croke Park, this remains the biggest ever crowd at a sporting event in Ireland since records began.
Since those heady days, the stadium has changed significantly and is now a much safer and more comfortable place to enjoy a game on big match days.
In 1988, the old Hogan Stand was replaced by the Mackey Stand, named after hurling’s first superstar from Limerick’s golden era of the 1930s and 1940s, Mick Mackey.
Then, in 2004, the redevelopment of the other three sides of the ground saw concrete terracing installed behind each goal, along with a fine stand where once the gravel embankments of yesteryear had stood.
Since then, along with the usual big Munster Championship games, the ground has also hosted an Ireland v Australia International Rules Series Test match in 2010 and an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Football semi-final replay between Kerry and Mayo in 2014.
Of course, as the home of Limerick GAA, it would be remiss not to mention the many memorable and exciting county hurling and football finals played there throughout the decades. What a great honour it is to represent one’s club in a major final at Páirc na nGael, when “the pride of the parish” is on the line.
Putting on my Limerick hat once more and returning to the inter-county scene, we have been absolutely blessed with some of the most awe-inspiring and exciting moments at the Gaelic Grounds over the years — the warrior-like comeback against Tipperary in the 1992 National Hurling League Final, that unforgettable Ciarán Carey point against Clare in 1996, the seismic 2013 Munster hurling final win over Cork that turned the tide for Limerick hurling, and of course, the homecoming of our All-Ireland champions of 2018, who have since given us so many great days, both home and away.
A matchday at the Gaelic Grounds is really something special. Each visit carries a deep sense of history and respect for the legendary names and moments of the past, while also building anticipation for the next contest and the chance to witness new chapters to the never-ending story of this cherished venue.