Donnybrook Stadium

Donnybrook Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Energia Park, is a rugby union stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Donnybrook Stadium
Energia Park
The new grandstand, shortly after completion, in February 2008
Donnybrook Stadium
Location within Dublin
LocationDonnybrook, Dublin
Coordinates53°19′15.00″N 6°14′00.00″W
OwnerIrish Rugby Football Union
Capacity6,000[1]
SurfaceSynthetic grass[2]
Tenants
Bective Rangers RFC, Old Wesley RFC[2][3]

History

The stadium, also sometimes known as Donnybrook Rugby Ground,[4] is located on the former fair green used for the Donnybrook Fair until the mid-1850s.[5] Used for games by Bective Rangers and Old Wesley since at least the early 20th century,[6][7] the ground was also the home stadium of Leinster Rugby - until they moved competitive games to the nearby RDS Arena in 2005.

In March 2018 Energia began a sponsorship deal, to rename the stadium as Energia Park for 10 years.[8][9]

Use

Old Wesley and Bective Rangers are two local rugby clubs who play their home games in Donnybrook.[3]

Leinster Rugby also still play some friendly games in Donnybrook, with Ireland A, Ireland Women's Team and Leinster underage sides playing home games in the stadium.[10][11] The stadium is also the principal venue for competitions organised by the Leinster Branch and competitions at all levels from under 13 to junior and senior adult level are played at the ground. This includes games in the Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cups, and it hosts several games in each competition each year.[12]

In August 2012 the stadium played host to two American high school football teams, Jesuit Dallas and Loyola Academy of Wilmette, Illinois. Jesuit defeated Loyola 30–29 with a last minute game-winning field goal.[13]

The stadium sometimes hosts music events, and for example hosted a Michael Bublé concert in July 2008,[14] and gigs headlined by The National and Future Islands in June 2018.[15][9]

Between 2015 and 2018, it hosted the Ireland under-20s home matches in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.

Since 2016, it has hosted the Ireland women's team's home matches in the Women's Six Nations Championship.

Capacity

The stadium has a capacity of 6,000,[3] including a 2,500 seat covered grandstand which was completed in early 2008.[1][16]

References

  1. "Venue - Donnybrook Stadium - Dublin". TheList. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. "New Donnybrook Pitches Are Officially Opened". Irishrugby.ie. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  3. "Worldstadia - Dublin - Donnybrook Stadium". Worldstadia.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009.
  4. "Donnybrook Rugby Ground To Be Redeveloped". RTÉ News. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. "Donnybrook: A History by Dr. Beatrice Doran". The History Press. 2013 via donnybrookparish.ie.
  6. "Proud of their history but looking to the future. Club Focus: Bective Rangers". Independent News & Media. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2018. [Bective Rangers] club moved to their current home in Donnybrook sometime around 1910
  7. "Old Wesley - History - 1901–1930". Oldwesley.ie. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  8. "Welcome to Energia Park". Energia.ie. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  9. "Donnybrook Stadium becomes Energia Park as Leinster agree 10-year naming rights partnership". Independent News & Media. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  10. "Ireland Women's Team To Face Italy at Donnybrook Announced". Leinster Rugby. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018. Ireland Women’s team [are] to take on their Italian counterparts on Sunday, 11th February, at Donnybrook Stadium for their first home game of the 2018 Women’s 6 Nations
  11. "England Women outclass Ireland in Donnybrook". rte.ie. RTÉ. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019. Ireland were second best against a dominant England side as the visitors scored eight tries in a 51-7 win at Donnybrook Stadium in the Women’s Six Nations
  12. "Leinster Schools Cup Draws". Leinster Rugby. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009.
  13. "Loyola falls to Dallas Jesuit in Dublin". Chicago Tribune. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  14. "Entertainment - Music - Pop". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  15. "The National at Donnybrook stadium: Everything you need to know". Irish Times. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. "Donnybrook is now to be known as Energia Park". Irish Times. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.


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