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Coordinates: 54°56′44″N 7°45′09″W / 54.945423°N 7.752413°W / 54.945423; -7.752413
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{{Use Irish English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox venue
{{Infobox venue
| name = O' Donnell Park
| name = O' Donnell Park
| nickname = '''{{lang|ga|Páirc uí Dhomhnail}}'''
| nickname = '''{{lang|ga|Páirc uí Dhomhnail}}'''
| image = Odonnellpark.jpg
| image = Odonnellpark.jpg
| location = [[Letterkenny]], [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| location = [[Letterkenny]], [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|54.945423|-7.752413|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|54.945423|-7.752413|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| opened = 1937
| opened = 1937
| renovated = 1955
| renovated = 1955
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_relief = 1
| surface = grass
| surface = grass
|pushpin_map =Northern Ireland#Island of Ireland
| pushpin_map = Island of Ireland
| owner = [[C.L.G. Naomh Adhamhnáin|Naomh Adhamhnáin]]<ref name=opening_of_odonnell_park/>
| owner = [[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]]<ref name=opening_of_odonnell_park/>
| operator =
| operator =
| architect =
| architect =
| cost =
| cost =
|publictransit = [[Letterkenny]] bus station
| publictransit = [[Letterkenny]] bus station
| capacity = 8,200 (2012–present)<ref name="Donegal capacities 2012">{{cite web |title=Capacities confirmed |url=https://donegalnews.com/2012/12/capacities-confirmed/ |website=Donegal News |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> (2,500 Seated)
| capacity = 8,200 (2012–present)<ref name="Donegal capacities 2012">{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2012/12/capacities-confirmed/|title=Capacities confirmed|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=6 December 2012|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> (2,500 Seated)
}}
}}
'''O' Donnell Park''' ({{lang-ga|Páirc uí Dhomhnail}}) is a [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] stadium in [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The home ground of the [[C.L.G. Naomh Adhamhnáin|Naomh Adhamhnáin]] club, it is situated between the [[Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex]] and [[Ballymacool Park]] on the outskirts of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letterkenny.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=133&category_name=Sporting+Groups|title=Letterkenny Town Council: St Eunans GAA club, O'Donnell Park|access-date=2008-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119032115/http://www.letterkenny.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=133&category_name=Sporting+Groups|archive-date=2007-11-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Donegal GAA|Donegal county football team]] uses O'Donnell Park as a venue for matches.
'''O' Donnell Park''' ({{langx|ga|Páirc uí Dhomhnail}}) is a [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] stadium in [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The home ground of the [[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] club, it is situated between the [[Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex]] and [[Ballymacool Park]] on the outskirts of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letterkenny.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=133&category_name=Sporting+Groups|title=Letterkenny Town Council: St Eunans GAA club, O'Donnell Park|access-date=2008-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119032115/http://www.letterkenny.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=133&category_name=Sporting+Groups|archive-date=2007-11-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Donegal county football team]] uses O'Donnell Park as a venue for matches (as does the [[Donegal county hurling team|county hurling team]]).


==History==
==History==
The ground has hosted [[Gaelic games]] since the 1930s when CLG Naomh Adhamhnáin bought the land for £300. The ground opened on Sunday 2 May 1937, with the [[William MacNeely|Bishop of Raphoe]]'s blessing of the park, a hurling match between Donegal and [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]], an address from [[GAA Presidents|GAA President]] Bob O'Keeffe and a football match between Donegal and [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]].<ref name=opening_of_odonnell_park>{{cite web|url=http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78469/o_p_e_n_i_n_g_o_f_o_d_o_n_n_e_l_l_p_a_r_k |title=Opening of O'Donnell Park |work=St. Eunan's website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412221754/http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78469/o_p_e_n_i_n_g_o_f_o_d_o_n_n_e_l_l_p_a_r_k |archive-date=2015-04-12 }}</ref>
The ground has hosted [[Gaelic games]] since the 1930s when the St Eunan's club bought the land for £300. The ground opened on Sunday 2 May 1937, with the [[William MacNeely|Bishop of Raphoe]]'s blessing of the park, a hurling match between [[Donegal county hurling team|Donegal]] and [[Antrim county hurling team|Antrim]], an address from [[President of the Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA President]] [[Bob O'Keeffe]] and a football match between [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] and [[Armagh county football team|Armagh]].<ref name=opening_of_odonnell_park>{{cite web|url=http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78469/o_p_e_n_i_n_g_o_f_o_d_o_n_n_e_l_l_p_a_r_k |title=Opening of O'Donnell Park|publisher=[[St Eunan's GAA]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412221754/http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78469/o_p_e_n_i_n_g_o_f_o_d_o_n_n_e_l_l_p_a_r_k |archive-date=2015-04-12 }}</ref>


During the [[Fleadh Cheoil]] na hÉireann 2006, the ground was used as a makeshift campsite for visitors to the town for the duration of the festival. On 11 November 2008, CLG Naomh Adhamhnáin confirmed that it had completed the purchase of {{convert|14.5|acre|m2}} of land adjoining O'Donnell Park, which it intended to develop over the coming years into additional pitches for the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/St-Eunans-club-complete-purchase.4692531.jp|title=St Eunan's club complete purchase of 14.5 acre site|newspaper=Donegal Democrat|date=14 October 2008|access-date=14 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724140642/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/St-Eunans-club-complete-purchase.4692531.jp|archive-date=24 July 2012}}</ref>
During the [[Fleadh Cheoil]] na hÉireann 2006, the ground was used as a makeshift campsite for visitors to the town for the duration of the festival. On 11 November 2008, St Eunan's confirmed that it had completed the purchase of {{convert|14.5|acre|m2}} of land adjoining O'Donnell Park, which it intended to develop over the coming years into additional pitches for the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/St-Eunans-club-complete-purchase.4692531.jp|title=St Eunan's club complete purchase of 14.5 acre site|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=14 October 2008|access-date=14 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724140642/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/St-Eunans-club-complete-purchase.4692531.jp|archive-date=24 July 2012}}</ref>


The [[Sam Maguire Cup]] and members of Donegal's 2012 All-Ireland winning team attended a world record attempt at O'Donnell Park on 29 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/09/28/stars-to-bring-sam-maguire-to-world-record-attempt-at-odonnell-park/|title=Stars to bring Sam Maguire to world record attempt at O'Donnell Park|work=Donegal Daily|date=28 September 2012|access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref>
The [[Sam Maguire Cup]] and members of Donegal's [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2012 All-Ireland SFC]] winning team attended a world record attempt at O'Donnell Park on 29 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/09/28/stars-to-bring-sam-maguire-to-world-record-attempt-at-odonnell-park/|title=Stars to bring Sam Maguire to world record attempt at O'Donnell Park|date=28 September 2012|access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref>


The O'Donnell Park pitch was "highly commended" at the 2019 National Pitch Awards, and finished in the top six alongside such stadiums as [[Páirc Tailteann]], [[Nowlan Park]], [[Pearse Stadium]] and [[Dr Hyde Park]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Shaun|last=Keenan|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/06/26/odonnell-park-highly-commended-at-national-pitch-awards/|title=O'Donnell Park 'highly commended' at National Pitch Awards|date=26 June 2019|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>
The O'Donnell Park pitch was "highly commended" at the 2019 National Pitch Awards, and finished in the top six alongside such stadiums as [[Páirc Tailteann]], [[Nowlan Park]], [[Pearse Stadium]] and [[Dr Hyde Park]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Shaun|last=Keenan|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/06/26/odonnell-park-highly-commended-at-national-pitch-awards/|title=O'Donnell Park 'highly commended' at National Pitch Awards|date=26 June 2019|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>
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==County matches==
==County matches==
Having formerly been a venue for football matches played by the Donegal county team, O'Donnell Park went unused for this purpose for three decades. On 25 March 2007, O'Donnell Park hosted its first inter-county football match since this hiatus, with Donegal defeating reigning [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland]] champions [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]] by a scoreline of 1–15 to 0–13 in Division 1 (the top tier) of the [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]]. There was a half-hour delay to the game after the Kerry team were unable to arrive on time due to fog at the airport. [[TG4]] broadcast the match live to a national audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/346462151483514.php|title=Donegal News: Donegal beat Kerry}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://steunans.donegal.gaa.ie/returnofnfltoodonnellpark.html|title=Return of NFL to O'Donnell Park|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413064620/http://steunans.donegal.gaa.ie/returnofnfltoodonnellpark.html|archive-date=2008-04-13}}</ref> Donegal followed up their victory by winning the [[2007 National Football League (Ireland)|2007 National Football League]] title.<ref name=dn_record>{{cite news|first=Oisín|last=Bradley|title=O'Donnell Park record|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=6 February 2020|page=76|quote=...despite [losses], all the games have been competitive affairs, leaving the team and management with something to look to in terms of recent results at the venue while they gear up for the visit of the Tribesmen.}}</ref>
Having formerly been a venue for football matches played by the Donegal county team, O'Donnell Park went unused for this purpose for three decades. On 25 March 2007, O'Donnell Park hosted its first inter-county football match since this hiatus, with Donegal defeating reigning [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland]] champions [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]] by a scoreline of 1–15 to 0–13 in Division 1 (the top tier) of the [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]]. There was a half-hour delay to the game after the Kerry team were unable to arrive on time due to fog at the airport. [[TG4]] broadcast the match live to a national audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/346462151483514.php|title=Donegal News: Donegal beat Kerry}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://steunans.donegal.gaa.ie/returnofnfltoodonnellpark.html|title=Return of NFL to O'Donnell Park|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413064620/http://steunans.donegal.gaa.ie/returnofnfltoodonnellpark.html|archive-date=2008-04-13}}</ref> Donegal followed up their victory by winning the [[2007 National Football League (Ireland)|2007 National Football League]] title.<ref name=dn_record>{{cite news|first=Oisín|last=Bradley|title=O'Donnell Park record|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=6 February 2020|page=76|quote=…despite [losses], all the games have been competitive affairs, leaving the team and management with something to look to in terms of recent results at the venue while they gear up for the visit of the Tribesmen.}}</ref>


Donegal have played the following league games at O'Donnell Park since then.
Donegal have played the following league games at O'Donnell Park since then.
Line 40: Line 40:
! Date !! Opponent !! Round
! Date !! Opponent !! Round
|-
|-
| 25 March 2007 || {{color box|#009000}}{{color box|#FFFF00}} [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 25 March 2007 || {{color box|009000}}{{color box|FFFF00}} [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 13 April 2008 || {{color box|#ff0000}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Derry GAA|Derry]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0413/donegal_derry.html|title=Donegal 0-10 Derry 0-15|work=RTÉ Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/7345296.stm|title=Donegal 0-10 0-15 Derry|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=13 April 2008|access-date=13 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport|title=Sport|website=BreakingNews.ie}}</ref> || Division 1 semi-final
| 13 April 2008 || {{color box|ff0000}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Derry county football team|Derry]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0413/donegal_derry.html|title=Donegal 0–10 Derry 0–15|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=13 April 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501170840/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0413/donegal_derry.html|archivedate=1 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/7345296.stm|title=Donegal 0–10 0–15 Derry|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=13 April 2008|access-date=13 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport|title=Sport|publisher=[[BreakingNews.ie]]}}</ref> || Division 1 semi-final
|-
|-
| 2009 || {{color box|#006400}}{{color box|#FF0000}} [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 2009 || {{color box|006400}}{{color box|FF0000}} [[Mayo county football team|Mayo]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 2011 || {{color box|#ffffff}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 2011 || {{color box|ffffff}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Kildare county football team|Kildare]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 2012 || {{color box|#0000ff}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Laois GAA|Laois]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 2012 || {{color box|0000ff}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Laois county football team|Laois]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 2014 || {{color box|#ffffff}}{{color box|#0000ff}} [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Matchday three<ref name=dn_record/>
| 2014 || {{color box|ffffff}}{{color box|0000ff}} [[Monaghan county football team|Monaghan]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Matchday three<ref name=dn_record/>
|-
|-
| 8 March 2015 || {{color box|#ffffff}}{{color box|#0000ff}} [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2015/0308/685474-donegal-v-monaghan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309041115/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2015/0308/685474-donegal-v-monaghan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|title=Monaghan grind out result in dour encounter|work=RTÉ Sport|date=8 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref> || Regular
| 8 March 2015 || {{color box|ffffff}}{{color box|0000ff}} [[Monaghan county football team|Monaghan]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2015/0308/685474-donegal-v-monaghan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309041115/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2015/0308/685474-donegal-v-monaghan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|title=Monaghan grind out result in dour encounter|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=8 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref> || Regular
|-
|-
| 13 March 2016 || {{color box|#FCF768}}{{color box|#0000ff}} [[Roscommon GAA|Roscommon]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref name="auto">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0313/774557-donegal-v-roscommon/|title=Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal|work=RTÉ Sport|date=13 March 2016|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> || Regular
| 13 March 2016 || {{color box|FCF768}}{{color box|0000ff}} [[Roscommon county football team|Roscommon]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref name="auto">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0313/774557-donegal-v-roscommon/|title=Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=13 March 2016|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> || Regular
|-
|-
| 5 February 2017 || {{color box|#009000}}{{color box|#FFFF00}} [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-donegal-division-1-3224023-Feb2017/|title=Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice|date=5 February 2017|access-date=5 February 2017}}</ref> || Regular
| 5 February 2017 || {{color box|009000}}{{color box|FFFF00}} [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-donegal-division-1-3224023-Feb2017/|title=Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice|publisher=[[The42.ie]]|date=5 February 2017|access-date=5 February 2017}}</ref> || Regular
|-
|-
| 4 February 2018 || {{color box|#800000}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Galway GAA|Galway]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref name="auto"/> || Regular
| 4 February 2018 || {{color box|800000}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Galway county football team|Galway]]<ref name=dn_record/><ref name="auto"/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 24 February 2019 || {{color box|#008000}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Fermanagh GAA|Fermanagh]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 24 February 2019 || {{color box|008000}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Fermanagh county football team|Fermanagh]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
|-
| 9 February 2020 || {{color box|#800000}}{{color box|#ffffff}} [[Galway GAA|Galway]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
| 9 February 2020 || {{color box|800000}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Galway county football team|Galway]]<ref name=dn_record/> || Regular
|-
| 27 March 2022 || {{color box|FF7F00}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Armagh county football team|Armagh]]<ref name="DON ARM 2022">{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-hang-on-for-win-as-things-get-hot-and-heavy-with-armagh-1.4837561|title=Donegal hang on for win as things get hot and heavy with Armagh|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=27 March 2022|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> || Regular
|-
| 26 February 2023 || {{color box|800000}}{{color box|ffffff}} [[Galway county football team|Galway]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/football-league-roinn-1/donegal-galway/2381573/|title=Allianz FL D1: Donegal and Galway share the spoils|date=26 February 2023|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref> || Regular
|-
|-
|}
|}


NFL matches at the venue have tended to be competitive, with opponents finding it difficult to leave with full points if they do.<ref name=dn_record/> 2014's 2–11 to 0–10 victory over [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]], an eight-point win, is Donegal's biggest victory at O'Donnell Park.<ref name=dn_record/>
NFL matches at the venue have tended to be competitive, with opponents finding it difficult to leave with full points if they do.<ref name=dn_record/> 2014's 2–11 to 0–10 victory over [[Monaghan county football team|Monaghan]], an eight-point win, is Donegal's biggest victory at O'Donnell Park.<ref name=dn_record/>


It has also been used by the Donegal senior hurling team, for example in the [[2020 Nicky Rackard Cup]].<ref>https://www.highlandradio.com/2020/10/31/donegal-advance-to-nicky-rackard-semi-final-with-win-over-armagh/ {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2021}}</ref>
It has also been used by the [[Donegal senior hurling team]], for example in the [[2020 Nicky Rackard Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highlandradio.com/2020/10/31/donegal-advance-to-nicky-rackard-semi-final-with-win-over-armagh/|title = Donegal advance to Nicky Rackard semi final with win over Armagh|publisher=[[Highland Radio]]|date=31 October 2020}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 77: Line 81:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Donegal GAA}}
{{Gaelic games venues}}
{{Gaelic games venues}}
{{letterkenny}}
{{Donegal GAA}}
{{Letterkenny}}


[[Category:Buildings and structures in Letterkenny]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Letterkenny]]

Latest revision as of 23:58, 5 November 2024

O' Donnell Park
Páirc uí Dhomhnail
O' Donnell Park is located in island of Ireland
O' Donnell Park
O' Donnell Park
Location within island of Ireland
LocationLetterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Coordinates54°56′44″N 7°45′09″W / 54.945423°N 7.752413°W / 54.945423; -7.752413
Public transitLetterkenny bus station
OwnerSt Eunan's[1]
Capacity8,200 (2012–present)[2] (2,500 Seated)
Surfacegrass
Construction
Opened1937
Renovated1955

O' Donnell Park (Irish: Páirc uí Dhomhnail) is a GAA stadium in County Donegal, Ireland. The home ground of the St Eunan's club, it is situated between the Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex and Ballymacool Park on the outskirts of the town.[3] The Donegal county football team uses O'Donnell Park as a venue for matches (as does the county hurling team).

History

[edit]

The ground has hosted Gaelic games since the 1930s when the St Eunan's club bought the land for £300. The ground opened on Sunday 2 May 1937, with the Bishop of Raphoe's blessing of the park, a hurling match between Donegal and Antrim, an address from GAA President Bob O'Keeffe and a football match between Donegal and Armagh.[1]

During the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2006, the ground was used as a makeshift campsite for visitors to the town for the duration of the festival. On 11 November 2008, St Eunan's confirmed that it had completed the purchase of 14.5 acres (59,000 m2) of land adjoining O'Donnell Park, which it intended to develop over the coming years into additional pitches for the club.[4]

The Sam Maguire Cup and members of Donegal's 2012 All-Ireland SFC winning team attended a world record attempt at O'Donnell Park on 29 September 2012.[5]

The O'Donnell Park pitch was "highly commended" at the 2019 National Pitch Awards, and finished in the top six alongside such stadiums as Páirc Tailteann, Nowlan Park, Pearse Stadium and Dr Hyde Park.[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Donnell Park was used as a drive-through test centre.[7]

County matches

[edit]

Having formerly been a venue for football matches played by the Donegal county team, O'Donnell Park went unused for this purpose for three decades. On 25 March 2007, O'Donnell Park hosted its first inter-county football match since this hiatus, with Donegal defeating reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry by a scoreline of 1–15 to 0–13 in Division 1 (the top tier) of the National Football League. There was a half-hour delay to the game after the Kerry team were unable to arrive on time due to fog at the airport. TG4 broadcast the match live to a national audience.[8][9] Donegal followed up their victory by winning the 2007 National Football League title.[10]

Donegal have played the following league games at O'Donnell Park since then.

Date Opponent Round
25 March 2007    Kerry[10] Regular
13 April 2008    Derry[10][11][12][13] Division 1 semi-final
2009    Mayo[10] Regular
2011    Kildare[10] Regular
2012    Laois[10] Regular
2014    Monaghan[10] Matchday three[10]
8 March 2015    Monaghan[10][14] Regular
13 March 2016    Roscommon[10][15] Regular
5 February 2017    Kerry[10][16] Regular
4 February 2018    Galway[10][15] Regular
24 February 2019    Fermanagh[10] Regular
9 February 2020    Galway[10] Regular
27 March 2022    Armagh[17] Regular
26 February 2023    Galway[18] Regular

NFL matches at the venue have tended to be competitive, with opponents finding it difficult to leave with full points if they do.[10] 2014's 2–11 to 0–10 victory over Monaghan, an eight-point win, is Donegal's biggest victory at O'Donnell Park.[10]

It has also been used by the Donegal senior hurling team, for example in the 2020 Nicky Rackard Cup.[19]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Opening of O'Donnell Park". St Eunan's GAA. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Capacities confirmed". Donegal News. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Letterkenny Town Council: St Eunans GAA club, O'Donnell Park". Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  4. ^ "St Eunan's club complete purchase of 14.5 acre site". Donegal Democrat. 14 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  5. ^ "Stars to bring Sam Maguire to world record attempt at O'Donnell Park". 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  6. ^ Keenan, Shaun (26 June 2019). "O'Donnell Park 'highly commended' at National Pitch Awards". Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  7. ^ "St Eunan's GAA club to be used as Covid-19 test centre". Donegal News. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Donegal News: Donegal beat Kerry".
  9. ^ "Return of NFL to O'Donnell Park". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Bradley, Oisín (6 February 2020). "O'Donnell Park record". Donegal News. p. 76. …despite [losses], all the games have been competitive affairs, leaving the team and management with something to look to in terms of recent results at the venue while they gear up for the visit of the Tribesmen.
  11. ^ "Donegal 0–10 Derry 0–15". RTÉ Sport. 13 April 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008.
  12. ^ "Donegal 0–10 0–15 Derry". BBC Sport. 13 April 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  13. ^ "Sport". BreakingNews.ie.
  14. ^ "Monaghan grind out result in dour encounter". RTÉ Sport. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  15. ^ a b Campbell, Peter (13 March 2016). "Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  16. ^ Foley, Alan (5 February 2017). "Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice". The42.ie. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  17. ^ McNulty, Chris (27 March 2022). "Donegal hang on for win as things get hot and heavy with Armagh". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  18. ^ McNulty, Chris (26 February 2023). "Allianz FL D1: Donegal and Galway share the spoils". Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Donegal advance to Nicky Rackard semi final with win over Armagh". Highland Radio. 31 October 2020.
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