Dubarry Park

Dubarry Park is a rugby union stadium in Cornamangh townland, near the Coosan area of Athlone, County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland. It is the home ground of Buccaneers RFC and has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.[1] Between 2005 and 2015, it hosted Ireland's home matches in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[2][3]

Dubarry Park
Páirc de Barra
Dubarry Park
Location within Ireland
LocationCoosan, Athlone, Republic of Ireland
Coordinates53°26′07″N 07°55′23″W
OwnerBuccaneers RFC
Typerugby union ground
Capacity10,000
Field size122 × 68 m (133 × 74 yds)
Surfacegrass
Construction
Renovated2003
Tenants
Buccaneers RFC

History

Dubarry Park is named after Dubarry of Ireland who sponsor Buccaneers RFC.[4] Though mostly used for rugby, the ground has also been used by association football team Athlone Town.[5] In 2003, the ground was redeveloped with a new stand and clubhouse erected.[6]

Professional rugby usage

Dubarry Park has been used several times for professional rugby matches. In 2005, it was selected by the Irish Rugby Football Union to host the Ireland national under-20 rugby union team's matches in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[2] The ground continued to host Ireland Under-20s until 2016 when the matches were moved to Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin.[3] Following Buccaneers' lobbying the IRFU returned Ireland Under-20s matches to Dubarry Park however the IRFU revisited their decision and moved matches to Musgrave Park in Cork due to low attendances.[7] The senior Ireland national rugby union team since used the ground as a venue for training.[8]

Dubarry Park has also been used by Connacht Rugby. In 2002, it hosted Connacht's European Challenge Cup quarter final against Pontypridd. Connacht also hosted three Celtic League games there in 2003.[6] Later, they continued to use it to host pre-season fixtures against opposition such as Wasps and Exeter Chiefs due to their usual Galway Sportsgrounds being unavailable.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. "Dubarry Sports Park". Ireland Planner. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. "Under-20s To Light Up Dubarry Park Again". IRFU. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  3. McDermott, Kevin (20 February 2018). "International rugby returning to Dubarry Park". Shannonside. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. "Dubarry To Continue Buccaneers Sponsorship". IRFU. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  5. "FAI Junior Cup venue controversy rolls on". Westmeath Independent. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. "Connacht make two changes for Llanelli". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  7. Hooper, Dave (21 September 2018). "Irish Under-20's Not Returning to Dubarry Park". Shannonside. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  8. "What the Six Nations sides have been doing in their first fallow week". Rugby World. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. "Connacht start the rugby season at Dubarry Park". Athlone Advertiser. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  10. "Connacht Switch Pre-Season Game To Dubarry Park". IRFU. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
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