Páirc Uí Rinn is 200m from our school.
Páirc Uí Rinn was originally called "Flower Lodge". It was a soccer ground, home to several Cork soccer teams since the early 20th century. The most popular of these teams was "Cork Hibernians", who were one of the most successful League of Ireland teams in the 1960s and '70s. "The Lodge" was regularly filled for Hibs' home games, particularly for their local derby with Cork Celtic. However, both Cork clubs went out of business in the late 1970s, after experiencing a sudden collapse in their crowds. They were replaced in 1984 by a new, single Cork team, "Cork City FC", who initially also played at Flower Lodge. However, in 1986, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, who owned the ground, put it up for sale, forcing Cork City to move to Turners Cross.
The old stadium was acquired by the GAA, and renamed Páirc Uí Rinn after Christy Ring. Christy Ring was a famous Cork and Glen Rovers hurler, who many would consider to be the greatest hurler of all time. The current capacity of the stadium is approximately 18, 000. When the GAA bought the stadium, they had to demolish the terraces at either end of the pitch to allow the longer playing field required by their games. The capacity of the stadium was recently increased by extending the existing stand and installing concrete terraces behind the goals. Páirc Uí Rinn is the first GAA stadium in Ireland to have installed flood-lights, resulting in a number of late evening games taking place.In the first game held under lights,Cork footballers beat their great rivals Kerry,hopefully a good omen for things to come.
Every year we train for the City sports in Páirc Uí Rinn.
For more on Christy Ring,go to www.gaamuseum.ie