by Brendan McCann
Although Armagh had played competitive games at the Athletic Grounds since 1926, it was in early 1936 that a meeting of GAA members interested in acquiring a county ground in Armagh city was held in Bennetts, Ogle Street. Participants at this meeting were Fr. J. Irwin, P.J. O’Neill, James McGovern, Frank Mallon and Owen J. Bennett. The site generally described as the “Athletic Ground” was deemed the most suitable site in the area, then leased to the Young Irelands club and it was decided to open negotiations to purchase the site, which proved successful, for the sum of £1000 plus legal and other expenses. Deposits were raised to the sum of £200 by Frank Mallon and Owen J. Bennett towards the full purchase price.
The deal was finally clinched in July 1936 with donations from the following: £100 from the parochial clergy, £200 from P.J. O’Neill, £200 from Hugh McCusker, £100 from James McGovern, £100 from Gerry Arthurs, £100 from Felix Coyne, £100 from Patrick McArdle, and £100 from the Feis Committee. Raising such a sum in a time described as the “hungry thirties” was problematic but it was agreed to seek grants and loans to secure the sale.
A committee was formed to manage the facility, mainly made up of those who had been involved in arranging the finance to buy the ground. The initial trustees were Owen J. Bennett, P.J. O’Neill and Gerry Arthurs.
An immediate determination focussed attention on the need to improve the playing surface and surrounds, including addressing drainage and creatin of a fence. A collection throughout the county was established to facilitate this work.
In the intervening years up to 1963, the County Committee allocated £1200 towards improvements whilst assistance from Provincial and Central Councils totalled £2250 and £300 respectively.
Even with limited development, the venue held it’s first Ulster Senior Football Championship Final in 1941, gaining plaudits from the Provincial Council for the condition of the playing surface and the general arrangements in respect to the event.
With Armagh enjoying on-field success in winning a first All-Ireland Minor title in 1949, ending a 46 year drought at provincial level in the senior grade a year later, before reach a first All-Ireland Senior Football Final in 1953, the local committee used this as a catalyst to remove a hill from the top end of the ground and install seating down one side of the pitch, using sleepers from the now defunct GNR. The 1960’s saw these sleepers replaced by concrete seating.
Responsibility for the management of the Athletic Grounds transferred in time to the local clubs in the city and subsequently to the Pearse Og club. Plans were established for a major development plan by the club which were approved and the club deserved great praise in ensuring the project was successfully completed in time for the GAA Centenary Year celebrations within the county.
Pearse Og’s involvement commenced at this time and they erected a prefabricated Social Club. Further to concerns that the facilities required major improvements, the club proposed the installation of dressing rooms and showers which were subsequently completed in 1975.
Armagh’s reemergence at the top table of Senior Football in the mid/late 1970’s, saw teams and supporters travel across the country, viewing facilities and wanting to better facilities within their own county.
Plans were put in place and the Athletic Grounds closed after a National Football League tie with Dublin in February 1982. Work began immediately and a new drainage system was installed on a longer and wider playing surface, increased seated capacity and spectator banking created to substantially increase capacity overall of 20,000. The creation of the Ceannarus, an administration block, a 40×20 handball alley, new dressing rooms, administrative headquarters for Armagh GAA, a multi-purpose hall and media gallery were also central to this development.
Over £400,000 was spent in providing the county with facilities to be proud of. The main sources of contributions came from the Pearse Og club, Armagh County Board, the Ulster GAA Council, Muintir Ard Macha Dublin, Central Council, Advertisers, the Eugene Quinn Handball Club and Cuchulainns Hurling Club.
The Armagh dream of boasting one of the best stadiums in the country moved closer to reality in February 2010 when work on the final phase of the ambitious redevelopment of the Athletic Grounds was stepped up.
The construction of a 5,700 covered grandstand saw the Armagh city venue undergo the ultimate transformation and heralded the dawn of a new era for the GAA in the county.
The Armagh County Board secured funding of £800,000 from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure through the medium of Sport NI while 400,000 euro has been received from Croke Park with a further 100,000 euro coming from the Ulster Council. In addition, Armagh District Council pumped £60,000 into the project meaning that in all some £1.3m was derived from grant-aid.
Over a number of years, the clubs also contributed a nominal £1,000 per year which was a substantial undertaking and commitment to the project.
The new stand and facilities were officially opened on 05/02/11 when Dublin again were the visitors in an all-ticket National Football League opener.
The Box-It Athletic Grounds is one of the most prominent GAA venues within Ulster and wider afield, having in recent years hosted All-Ireland Finals at Under-20 and Minor level, as well as an Ulster Senior Football Championship Final, not to mention a huge amount of fixtures in hurling and football at all grades within our proud county.
We look forward to what lies ahead in it’s second century with great hope and anticipation!