The atmosphere at Clones is one of the draws of the Ulster Final venue

Patrick McCarville is a devotee of St Tiernach’s park Clones.

The Monaghan venue is destined to lose its status as Ulster’s provincial ground, an eventuality which leaves McCarville disappointed.

Such is his passion we agreed to publish his impassioned plea to all Gaels to support the Monaghan venue as its days as the focal point of Ulster football draws to an end.

St. Tiernach’s Park has been the home of Ulster Football for over 70 years and there’s no real reason why this should change. Who can argue with the roaring atmosphere that St Tiernach’s Park can deliver on a match day? It’s hard to beat! How many parents and grandparents have walked their family up Churchill with high anticipation? This tradition has been built and written in the history books of Ulster football. The Ulster Final in Clones is more than just a match it’s an ‘experience’.

It makes me sad to think that this history and tradition has no currency in the future decisions for Ulster Final days.

I think that the GAA have really let themselves down by the way Clones has been treated in recent years. The stadium has been overlooked for many years with limited investment but still maintains as high a level of service as possible to patrons with the limited resources available. Surely the long term rewards to the GAA is to invest in the future of Clones, and not move lock, stock and barrel to the GAA’s planned Emirates in Casement.

Of course Casement Park deserves a refurbishment, Antrim GAA and their custodians deserves a county ground, but first and foremost the design and capacity must be in keeping with safety that fits the capacity and requirements of the area. Experts recommend that the suitability of the current casement site and the capacity of the new stadium should not be above 18,000. Due to these probable capacity restrictions facing the Casement Park project, it’s questionable if it can deliver what is needed for the GAA and the Ulster Final?

Is it now times to reconsider and put plans in place to refurbish St. Tiernach’s Park and commit to it being the home of Ulster Football for ever more? I believe St. Tiernach’s Park has served the GAA well and the €15 million contribution planned for Casement Park from the GAA would be better invested to refurbish and expand a new modern St. Tiernach’s park to allow the best get even better!

It takes strong people to make decisions for change but stronger people to reverse that decision that it I believe was wrong in the first place!

Clearly the decision to refurbish Casement Park has been made on the back political and financial investment from the British Government. The plan to centralise the Ulster GAA headquarters to Belfast will have a significant negative impact in Clones and the surrounding border region both economically and socially. The region is already a designated area of deprivation and the loss of such a significant social and economic event would have a significant detrimental effect.

The Ulster GAA Gaels everywhere have been told to sit back and be quiet, told to support the building of Casement Park, told that there shall be a new provincial stadium and home of Ulster Football and to go with it!

Let’s plan and fight to retain the Ulster Final in Clones. Monaghan County Council, Monaghan GAA, government ministers, local clubs, and loyal Ulster supporters must join in a call to stay loyal to their tradition and heritage and call for the redevelopment of St Tiernach’s Park. It is now time to voice your opinion, create momentum as in six or twelve months it will be too late and St. Tiernach’s Park shall be a distant recollection of a once great atmosphere that used be experienced in Clones on Ulster Final day.

Let’s have all the stakeholders come together and have viable, sustainable plans in place, commit a reasonable level of investment and commit towards having the upgrades to both the stadium and area infrastructure in place that is required to bring Clones to a new higher level for GAA patrons everywhere.

If you don’t know what a Clones Ulster Final ‘experience’ day means, come this Sunday and live it for yourself ….I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Patrick McCarville