Connacht GAA Air Dome

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Connacht GAA Air Dome
University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome
Location Bekan, County Mayo, Ireland
Owner Connacht GAA
Capacity 2000+ (GAA games)
10,000-20,000 (concerts/events) [1]
Construction
Opened2021
Construction cost€3.1 million

The University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome was an air-supported Gaelic games venue located at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, County Mayo, Ireland. It was the largest facility of its type in the world. [2]

Contents

The Air Dome hosted games at a variety of levels, including senior intercounty matches. Most notably, it was the primary venue for the FBD Insurance League between 2022 and 2024, until the competition was put on hiatus. [3] [4]

It was also capable of holding conferences and concerts. [5]

History

Connacht GAA began developing a Centre of Excellence at the site in 2007 [6] and the site was officially opened in December 2012. [7] In 2018, Connacht GAA was a successful applicant to the Irish Government's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and Minister Michael Ring awarded €2.1 million towards the construction of the dome, which began in October 2019. [8] Additional funding for the project, which cost €3.1 million was provided by the GAA Central Council [9] and Connacht GAA.

The Air Dome was officially opened by former GAA President Larry McCarthy in December 2021. [10]

The Air Dome was severely damaged, to the extent of being described as destroyed, in January 2025 by winds from Storm Éowyn. [11]

Matches

The first inter-county game held at the venue was the opening round fixture of the 2022 FBD League between Leitrim and Sligo on 3 January 2022, which Sligo won by 1–21 to 1–17. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome". Connacht GAA . Retrieved 10 January 2025. On-Site University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome Capacity: 2,000+ for games 10,000-20,000 (seated and standing) for concerts/events
  2. ↑ Ó Maicín, Aonghus. "Inside the world's largest sports air dome just outside Knock". Irish Times .
  3. ↑ "Air Dome to host Connacht pre-season competitions". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Scrapping pre-season competitions is a foolish move". The42.ie . 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome". ConnachtGAA.ie . Retrieved 10 January 2025. ...transform into a venue for exhibitions, concerts and conferences.
  6. ↑ "Details of Connacht Centre of Excellence outlined". Irish Independent . 27 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Connacht Air Dome". Electric Skyline. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome". Connacht GAA . Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Lawlor, Damian (28 March 2024). "Connacht Air Dome a sanctuary and a beacon for the GAA". RTÉ Sport . Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Connacht GAA and NUI Galway Announce Partnership Agreement". Connacht GAA . Retrieved 10 January 2025. The NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome will be officially opened on Sunday. December 12th 2021 by Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy.
  11. ↑ "'We'll rise again' - Connacht GAA Air Dome destroyed during Storm Éowyn". RTÉ News. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Connacht Air Dome hosts first-ever indoor inter-county GAA game". Irish Examiner . 3 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
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