With ticket fever at an all-time high in advance of Sunday week’s All-Ireland Football Final, Galway City Council has been asked to set-up an outdoor area with big screens to show the novel decider between Armagh and Galway.
Thousands of coveted match tickets are being sent to GAA clubs in the county this morning (Thursday ) as a vast army of maroon and white-clad fans hope to get their hands on them.
Fianna Fáil councillor John Connolly said that Eyre Square, Fisheries Field and South Park are all possible locations for fans to watch the match, especially given the likelihood that most fans will miss out on a golden ticket for the final.
“Tickets are like gold dust, and I’m sure every elected rep is being asked for one. We need to do something for fans who can’t make it to Dublin but want to sample the big game atmosphere with friends and family,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior gardaí in Galway are concerned that if Galway does win the All Ireland, a open top bus homecoming could cause mayhem in Race Week traffic. Tuam is understood to be a possible alternative location, but expectations are high that the event will still be held in Pearse Stadium.
In 2022, the Galway International Arts Festival teamed up with the city council to host a free, but ticketed fanzone for the Galway v Kerry football All-Ireland final in its Heineken Big Top at Fisheries Field. This is unlikely this year as The Saw Doctors are playing a sold-out gig on the evening of the final in the Big Top.
In 2022, the Galway International Arts Festival teamed up with the city council to host a free, but ticketed fanzone for the Galway v Kerry football All-Ireland final in its Heineken Big Top at Fisheries Field. This is unlikely this year as The Saw Doctors are playing a sold-out gig on the evening of the final in the Big Top.
In September 2017, an Eyre Square bedecked in maroon and white hosted big screens for thousands of fans to watch Galway hurlers dispatch Waterford to win the county’s fifth All Ireland title, however this month the Arts Festival has part of the park fenced off for its Festival Village until at least July 28.
Cllr Connolly has suggested South Park in the Claddagh – known locally as The Swamp, and site of the ill-fated launch event for the 2020 City of Culture celebrations, might be a contender, although he acknowledged that securing resources and an event licence for more than 5,000 people on open ground at short notice might be impossible.
In Armagh, local politicians are calling for fan zones to be set up across the Orchard County, in Armagh city, Banbridge and Craigavon, with news reports that local GAA clubs and the Borough Council are “exploring options”.
Pearse Stadium in Salthill is not an option for Galway fans as a fan-zone, as its staff are expected to be at Croke Park for the big game.
Responding to suggestions that Galway City Council might provide basic services such as water and underground power lines so short-notice, large-scale
