I had the pleasure of working in one of Irelands great GAA showgrounds today. Pierce Stadium, Galway City.
Pearse Stadium in Salthill has been the home of Galway GAA for nearly seventy years. The ground officially opened in June 1957 after being built on wet, marshy land known locally as The Boggers, using soil dredged from the River Corrib. Around sixteen thousand spectators turned out for the opening day to watch Galway play Tipperary in hurling and Kerry in football.
Not my first visit to the stadium but never into an empty ground before. It felt really strange being there without a match on.
Lovely views though.
As a Clare man we always love a trip to Galway for the games and have been fairly successful when we do play the tribesmen.
The stadium itself is right on the edge of Ireland facing out into the Atlantic ocean which makes for a cold, windy house on the wrong day. I've been there in the depths of winter holding my hands under my jumper just to stave off the frostbite.
I've also been there in the height of summer when the heat would turn your back red as you lean over the barriers to watch the action.
It can go either way. We are there for a few days improving the buildings and enjoying the spectacular views of the pitch.
I would almost bring my own hurly there tomorrow and get a few shots in if i could, just to say i scored a point there. Obviously it's a lot easier without the defense or a keeper but still nice to put one over the bar.
