Markets Field

Markets Field is a stadium in Garryowen, Limerick, Ireland.[1] It has been redeveloped since 5 June 2015 when it hosted a soccer match between Limerick FC and Drogheda United in the League of Ireland Premier Division. It has been graded a UEFA Category Two stadium with a capacity of around 5,000. The ground has hosted underage international fixtures in 2015.[2] The EA Sports Cup final between Limerick FC and St Patrick's Athletic was played in Markets Field on Saturday, 17 September 2016.

Markets Field

Páirc an Mhargaidh
Location	Garryowen, Limerick
Coordinates	52.6603°N 8.6149°W / 52.6603; -8.6149
Public transit	Limerick railway station Mulgrave Street bus stop Shannon Airport
Capacity	5,000 (1,710 seated)
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Yes
Opened	1880s
Tenants
Limerick W.F.C.

History

The site was originally a Gaelic games ground, having been used as a venue for Munster championship games in both hurling and Gaelic football. Most of the All-Ireland semi-finals between Munster and Connacht teams also took place there in the early years of the 1900s. It was also the home of Garryowen, a rugby club founded in Limerick in 1884, from 1886 until 1957.[3] Garryowen have since moved to new facilities in the Dooradoyle area of Limerick. For most of its life it has been greyhound racing stadium. Greyhound racing ceased on 17 July 2010 with the opening of a new greyhound stadium at Greenpark in the south of the city.[4]

The Markets Field is also the former home of soccer side Limerick FC. In 1962 Limerick F.C. played Liverpool in a friendly at Markets Field with Liverpool winning 5–3. It has hosted two of Limerick's six European ties. First in 1981 they lost 3–0 to Southampton FC of England in the UEFA Cup. Then in 1982 they drew 1–1 in the Cup Winners Cup against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Current use

Limerick F.C. were the principal license holder until their demise in 2019, after the ground was purchased by LEDP (Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership) with funds provided by the JP McManus charitable foundation.[5][6] The ground is also available as a municipal stadium. During late 2013 Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) redeveloped the pitch, investing €400k in a brand new playing surface.[7] In early 2014 after the granting of planning permission for the ground redevelopment the government announced additional funding to redevelop the stadium. The stadium hosted its first match in the refurbished ground on 5 June 2015[6] Since 2018, it is the home venue for Limerick W.F.C.

Layout

The refurbished Main Stand holds 1,350 spectators for the home supporters. Away support are housed in a new stand with 360 seats behind the Geraldine Villas goal. The Popular side and the Cathedral End are both standing areas with a Corporate box beside the Main Stand. These terrace areas are grassy banks at present. The score board is situated at the Cathedral End. The new tunnel and dressing rooms are under the Main Stand and there are 3 turnstiles named after Limerick football legends. The dugout is at the Popular Side, across the pitch from the tunnel. In 2015 the playing surface at the ground won the "Pitch of the Year Award" from FAI.

Greyhound racing

The Limerick Greyhound Company was formed in 1933 but it was not until 1937 when the opening night took place at Markets Field. The first directors were T.F.Ryan & J.P.Frost.[8]

The 465 yard circuit came to prominence in 1939 when it was selected by the Irish Coursing Club to hold the Irish Greyhound Derby for first and only time. The event was won by Marchin' Thro' Georgia who won the final in a new track record time of 30.05.[9][10]

The track then hosted the classic race the Irish St Leger in 1940 before it moved permanently to Limerick in 1944. The track also staged the Irish Oaks in 1942. The allocation of the 1943 Grand National did not help because due to the lack of hurdlers during the war Mr Ryan the chairman of Limerick Stadium was left with no choice but to cancel the event.[8] Other events that took place at Limerick were the Bulger Cup and Kennedy Memorial Cup and J. P. McManus started as a bookmaker at the track and earned the nickname 'Sundance Kid'.[11]

In 1958 the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord Na gCon based in Limerick) was given the responsibility of all tracks in Ireland with the exception of the Ulster tracks that would remain under the jurisdiction of the Irish Coursing Club. They installed a new totalisator system in 1960 as improvements became common place under the new ownership. Major changes in 1966 included a new stand costing over £60,000 and Brendan O’Connell was Racing Manager for over thirty years from 1966.[8]

The track closed in 2009 with the entire operation moving to the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium at Greenpark, Dock Road. Racing Manager Gus Ryan retired after 42 years in racing.[12]

Track records

Yards	Greyhound	Time	Date	Notes
300	Lucky Blunder	16.62	1970
300	Lazuli Mountain	16.45	25.09.1971
300	Fionntra Favour	16.34	03.10.1983
300	Clon Flash	16.26	19.08.1996
300	Go Queen Go	16.27	04.10.2001
300	Paws and Pray	16.20	24.11.2001
300	You Said So	16.15	16.06.2002
300	Silkey Joe	16.11	31.01.2004
300	Silkey Joe	16.06	15.01.2005
300	Ibetx Dot Com	15.99	22.12.2007
300	Primondo	15.91	05.07.2008
300	Tarbrook Henry	15.76	14.08.2008
315	Well Squared	17.84	1938
525	Master Eamonn	30.15	07.1939	Irish Derby heats
525	Irish Rambler	30.10	07.1939	Irish Derby semi-finals
525	Marching Through Georgia	30.02	15.07.1939	Irish Derby Final
525	Fair Mistress	29.98	1942	Oaks heats
525	Top Customer	29.27	1979
525	Flaming King	29.24	1968
525	Flaming King	29.15	23.09.1968
525	Squire Jones	29.12	12.1983
525	Grove Whisper	29.06	13.12.1986
525	Aulton Slippy	28.94	15.04.1988
525	Deep Decision	28.37	31.05.1997
525	Judicial Post	28.10	27.10.2002
525	Catunda Harry	27.99	17.06.2007
550	Dark Shadow	31.37	1945	St Leger final
550	Prince of Bermuda	30.66	11.1956	St Leger final
550	Flaming King	30.48	19.10.1968
550	Ballybeg Prim	30.44	18.10.1975	St Leger final
550	Morans Beef	30.06	20.10.1984
550	Frisby Flashing	29.66	09.10.1999	St Leger semi-final
550	Frisby Flashing	29.64	16.10.1999	St Leger final
550	Manic Ranger	29.59	10.06.2002
550	Larking About	29.59	22.06.2002	St Leger semi-final
550	Mountleader Rolf	29.51	24.05.2003
550	Droopys Deco	29.50	28.05.2007
550	Hondo Dingle	29.32	02.06.2007
550	Skywalker Prince	29.50	02.06.2007
550	The Other Sonic	29.46	19.05.2008	St Leger first round
550	Shelbourne Aston	29.38	25.05.2008	St Leger second round
550	Timor Blue	29.33	30.05.2009	St Leger third round
600	Maidens Breach	35.25	1950
600	Nancys Laurel	34.70	13.09.1952
700	Muskerry Cream	40.85
700	Speir Bhean	40.80	08.1954
700	Rovingo	40.29	1970
700	Greenville Queen	40.07	02.11.1970
700	Dromlara Champ	39.75	23.08.1975
700	Game Misty	39.53	20.09.1990
700	Frosty Rose	38.72	23.07.2001
700	Sparkling Wave	38.68	01.06.2002
700	Hondo Dingle	38.62	25.09.2006
700	Mucky Tony	38.40	13.09.2008
700	Summerfield Jean	38.32	05.09.2009
750	One More Stop	42.12	08.04.2000
750	Related Object	41.73	23.09.2002
750	Tinas Girl	41.64	26.07.2003
750	Nobody Wants Me	41.53	09.07.2005
1000	Wise Susie	57.49	27.01.2007
525 H	Jerrys Memory	30.95	09.09.1966
525 H	Own Kuda	30.35	17.05.1975
525 H	Silver Light	30.10	15.09.1976
525 H	Ballymac Mich	29.14	04.08.2003
525 H	Goofys Lofty	29.10	31.05.2004
525 H	Lemon Rambo	28.91	09.10.2004
525 H	Razldazl Denys	28.79	29.11.2008

References

1. "Limerick (Markets Field) information". Greyhound-data.com. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
2. Kinsella, Colm (25 August 2015). "Limerick's Markets Field to host two international fixtures". Limerick Leader. Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
3. Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership The Markets Field: Markets Field Past Present and Future Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Traps open for the last time at Markets Field". Limerick Post. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
5. http://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/12/31/limericks-markets-field-reopening-within-touching-distance/
6. http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/community/historic-night-for-limerick-with-markets-field-return-1-6780500
7. http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2014/0102/ireland/11m-grant-will-help-restoration-of-historic-markets-field-254079.html
8. Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd.
9. Fortune, Michael. Irish Greyhound Derby 1932-1981. Victory Irish Promotions Ltd.
10. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0709-0609.
11. Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
12. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2009) August edition". Greyhound Star.