Markets Field

Markets Field was first used as a sporting venue in 1886. A Limerick Chronicle newspaper from that time reported that the Irish Cycling Association and the Gaelic Athletic Association paid £8 per day for the use of the Markets Field over three consecutive weekends. when the club moved to new facilities in Dooradoyle. The Markets Field hosted the first meeting of the two oldest rugby clubs in the Munster Senior Cup, Garryowen and Cork Constitution, in 1900. The ground was also chosen to host the first All-Blacks rugby match against Munster in 1905. Limerick F.C. was formed in 1937 and Markets Field became the association football club's home ground. The stadium hosted European football for the first time in 1981, when Southampton F.C. beat Limerick 0–3 in the 1981–82 UEFA Cup. The following season, Markets Field was the setting for Limerick's 1–1 draw with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup. Limerick F.C. departed Markets Field for Hogan Park in April 1984. Discussions were held with the stadium owners, Bord na gCon (the Irish Greyhound Board), in 2009 about Limerick F.C. returning to Markets Field, who were by then playing in Jackman Park. After the Irish Greyhound Board also vacated in 2010, the future of the ground was left in doubt. Purchase and renovations On 2 March 2011, the JP McManus Foundation confirmed they had purchased the ground from Bord na gCon. Although the foundation had provided the funding, the owners of Markets Field would be the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP), a charitable organisation with links to JP McManus. By October 2012, Limerick F.C. had announced their intention to return to their former home. After mooted dates but no progress, Limerick instead moved from Jackman Park to Thomond Park in 2013 while the pitch at Markets Field was re-laid. The LEDP and the JP McManus Foundation provided additional funding towards stadium renovations. The club returned to Markets Field in 2015. The stadium hosted its first match in the refurbished ground on 5 June 2015, a League of Ireland Premier Division match between Limerick and Drogheda United. Limerick F.C. remained as the principal tenant of Markets Field until their demise in 2019. The Garryowen venue later became the home ground of Treaty United. In May 2025, the LEDP announced that Treaty had signed a long-term lease at Markets Field. ==Layout==

The refurbished Main Stand holds 1,340 spectators for the home supporters and contains a corporate box. The new tunnel and dressing rooms are under the Main Stand and there are three turnstiles named after Limerick football legends. Away supporters are housed in a demountable stand with 300 seats behind the Geraldine Villas goal and enter through a gate at this end. As of February 2025, this stand remains closed to supporters. The Popular side and the Cathedral End are both banked standing areas, The ground itself has no car parking. == Greyhound racing ==

The Limerick Greyhound Company was formed in 1933 but it was not until 1937 when racing began. The first directors were T.F.Ryan and J.P. Frost. The 465-yard circuit came to prominence in 1939 when it was selected by the Irish Coursing Club to hold the Irish Greyhound Derby for first and only time. The event was won by Marchin' Thro' Georgia who won the final in a new track record time of 30.05. The track hosted the classic race the Irish St Leger in 1940 before it moved permanently to Limerick in 1944. The track also staged the Irish Oaks in 1942. The allocation of the 1943 Grand National did not help because due to the lack of hurdlers during the war Mr Ryan the chairman of Limerick Stadium was left with no choice but to cancel the event. In 1958 the Irish Greyhound Board was given the responsibility of all tracks in Ireland with the exception of the Ulster tracks, that would remain under the jurisdiction of the Irish Coursing Club. They installed a new totalisator system in 1960 as improvements became commonplace under the new ownership, including a new stand costing over £60,000. Brendan O’Connell was Racing Manager for over thirty years from 1966. Racing Manager Gus Ryan retired after 42 years in racing. Track records == References ==