Connacht and Munster URC clash at home of Mayo GAA gets thumbs up
Machale Will In And Munster Gaa, Mayo Clash Urc 2025 Connacht Cardy/sportsfile The A Of Ramsey Host Between Home Park, Picture:
Connacht will play Munster in the URC at the home of Mayo GAA in 2025. The MacHale Park fixture received approval from the GAA's Central Council over the weekend.
The two sides will clash on March 29 with Mayo facing Sligo at MacHale Park in the Connacht SFC quarter-final the following weekend.
Connacht's Dexcom Stadium in Galway is currently undergoing redevelopment.
“Taking the game to another part of the province is a really good opportunity,” Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said last week.
“I think as well to be playing in front of whatever crowd we would get up there, as great as the atmosphere has been here at Dexcom with the reduced, standing and seating, to go in a place somewhere larger where we get an opportunity for more supporters from a different part of the province to come and watch us, it'd be brilliant. And we've seen the success of the games taken to GAA venues by other provinces."
Former Mayo footballer Alan Dillon, also a TD for the county, said recently that there is "overwhelming" support for the fixture.
"It is a top class stadium, all seater, new stand developed over a decade ago," he said.
"But certainly it has been under utilised... If we can look at other models and we have seen Cork GAA successfully integrate Munster Rugby into fixtures at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and that's a proven model. And that has shown how different sporting codes can co-exist and thrive bringing significant benefits to local communities and the economy.
"I feel that following this model we can ensure that Mayo GAA and Connacht Rugby can benefit both from this partnership and also create a more dynamic sporting environment for the western region."