Healy Park (known as

O'Neills O'Neills Irish International Sports Company Ltd. is an Irish sporting goods manufacturer established in 1918. It is the largest manufacturer of sportswear in Ireland, with production plants located in Dublin and Strabane. O'Neills has a long re ...

Healy Park for sponsorship reasons) is a GAA stadium in

Omagh Omagh (; from ga, An Ómaigh , meaning 'the virgin plain') is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. Northern Ireland's capital city Belfast is 68 m ...

County Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional Counties of Ireland, counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an admini ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

and is named after a GAA clubman from Omagh, Michael Healy. Healy Park is the home ground of

Omagh St. Enda's Omagh St Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Conor Sally is club chairman. History GAA clubs existed in Drumragh parish during 1904-09 (including hurling and camogie), 1917–20 and inte ...

and the

Tyrone county football team The Tyrone county football team () represents Tyrone GAA, the County board (Gaelic games), county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic games, Gaelic sport of Gaelic football, football. The team competes in the three major annu ...

. The stadium is located on the Gortin Road and approximately a 10-minute walk from the town centre, it is one of the largest stadiums in Northern Ireland with a ticketed capacity of approximately 17,636. According to '' Hogan Stand'', the stadium "is now recognised as one of the premier GAA venues in the country".

History

In early 1962,

club purchased of land at Lisnelly located near the Gortin Road. By 1968 the club had raised enough money to start construction of the new stadium. The park was eventually opened on 17 September 1972, by former GAA president Alf Murray and on 19 October 1980, the new park was dedicated to Michael Healy. The two years between 1980 and 1982 saw the fruition of the new clubrooms and social centre at Healy Park, which added further to the infrastructure of Healy Park. 1994 saw the terracing added to three sides of the pitch. Work began in September 2001 to build a new all-seated covered stand with a capacity of 5,000. The stand was opened in 2004. In April 2006, Healy Park became the first

Gaelic football Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach; short name '), commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA or Football is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kic ...

stadium in

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

to have

floodlight A floodlight is a broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial light. They are often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions. More focused kinds are often used as a stage ...

ing installed. A modern Press Box and Control Tower was made available at Healy Park for the

Tyrone Senior Football Championship The Tyrone Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the LCC Group ''Tyrone Senior Football Championship'') is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by top-tier Tyrone GAA clubs. The Tyrone County Board of the Ga ...

final on Sunday 14 October 2007 between

Dromore St. Dympna's Dromore St Dympna's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Dromore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. History The club was established in 1933. On Sunday 14 October 2007, Dromore made history by winning the Tyrone Sen ...

and

Coalisland Na Fianna Coalisland Fianna is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Coalisland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1903 and its home is Fr. Peter Campbell Park. Honours * Tyrone Senior Football Championship ( ...

. New changing rooms and disabled facilities have also been installed. In 2006,

Tyrone GAA The Tyrone County Board ( ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Coiste Chontae Tír Eoghain), or Tyrone GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games ...

unveiled plans for a second covered stand at Healy Park as the board felt it was time for additional covered and seated accommodation. They also planned to expand the ends behind both goals. Work started on the second phase of the £5m redevelopment scheme.

References

{{Tyrone GAA 1972 establishments in Ireland Gaelic games grounds in Northern Ireland Omagh Sports venues completed in 1972 Sports venues in County Tyrone Tourist attractions in County Tyrone Tyrone GAA

History

See also

References