Shamrock Rovers relocate to Drogs' United Park

Last updated : 19 December 2004 By Barry Landy
Shamrock Rovers have provisionally agreed to play their home matches at United Park in Drogheda in the 2005 season after their application for an extension to their planning permission for the Tallaght Stadium was turned down by South Dublin County Council on Thursday.

The timing of the rebuttal from the local authority could hardly have been worse for Rovers – the deadline for 2005 licensing applications, in which all eircom League clubs were required to outline plans for their home venue for next season, passed yesterday (December 17th).

There followed a frantic search for a home venue on Friday, and Rovers chairman Tony Maguire was able to gain the support of fellow Premier Division club Drogheda United ahead of the deadline.


The agreement to play the club’s home matches in Drogheda remains provisional, however, and the club’s embattled supporters – who have seen their side play their games at a host of venues around the capital since the doors closed on Glenmalure Park in the late 1980s – will hope the club can reach a final agreement to share a venue in Dublin in the New Year.

Bohemians’ Dalymount Park, Shelbourne’s Tolka Park and St Patrick’s Athletic’s Richmond Park – where the Hoops played their games in 2004 – would all again be candidates for a temporary home for the Hoops, who remain hopeful that they can earn approval to complete work on their proposed Tallaght stadium in the New Year.