Donnybrook Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Donnybrook Stadium
Nickname:Energia Park
Location:Donnybrook, Dublin
Surface:Synthetic grass[1]
Coordinates:53.3208°N -6.2333°W
Pushpin Map:Dublin
Opened:1964
Renovated:2008
Capacity:6,000[2]
Owner:Irish Rugby Football Union
Tenants:Bective Rangers RFC, Old Wesley RFC, Ireland Women (2016–present)
Ireland national U20 rugby (2015–2018)
Ireland A rugby (1993–2005)
Leinster A
Leinster (1964–2007)

Donnybrook Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Energia Park, is a rugby union stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000, including a 2,500 seat covered grandstand which was completed in early 2008.[2] [3]

History

The stadium, also sometimes known as Donnybrook Rugby Ground,[4] is located on the former fair green used for the Donnybrook Fair until the mid-1850s.[5] Used for games by Bective Rangers and Old Wesley since at least the early 20th century,[6] [7] the ground was also the home stadium of Leinster Rugby - until they moved competitive games to the nearby RDS Arena in 2007.[8]

In March 2018 Energia began a sponsorship deal, to rename the stadium as Energia Park for 10 years.[9] [10]

Rugby union

Primarily used for rugby union, Old Wesley and Bective Rangers are two local clubs who play their home games in Donnybrook.[11]

Leinster Rugby also still play some friendly games in Donnybrook, with Ireland A, Ireland Women's Team and Leinster underage sides playing home games in the stadium.[12] [13] Between 2015 and 2018, it hosted the Ireland under-20s home matches in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship. Since 2016, it has hosted the Ireland women's team's home matches in the Women's Six Nations Championship.[14]

The stadium is also the principal venue for competitions organised by the Leinster Branch and competitions at all levels from under 13 to junior and senior adult level are played at the ground. This includes games in the Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cups, and it hosts several games in each competition each year.[15]

Ireland Uncapped International Matches
DateHomeScoreOpponentCompetitionAttendance
19 March 1993 18–22 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
4 February 1994 10–20 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
20 January 1995 20–21 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
19 January 1996 26–19 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
1 March 1996 25–11 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
13 November 1996 28–25
17 January 1997 23–44 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
14 February 1997 30–44 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
6 February 1998 9–11 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
5 February 1999 26–25 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
5 March 1999 21–28 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship
9 April 1999 73–17 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [16]
18 February 2000 23–21 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [17]
3 March 2000 31–3 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [18]
31 March 2000 28–26 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [19] [20]
8 November 2001 23–18 [21]
22 March 2002 59–5 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [22]
28 March 2003 24–21 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship 6,000[23] [24]
11 March 2005 15–9 Six Nations "A" Rugby Championship [25]
Up to date as of 19 November 2022.[26]
Leinster Results versus Representative Sides
DateHomeScoreOpponentCompetitionAttendance
30 December 1979 Leinster 26–10 [27]
8 October 1980 Leinster 24–10 [28]
12 November 1994 Leinster 26–15 [29]
24 August 1999 22–51 [30]
18 November 2022 Leinster 40–3 2022 end-of-year internationals [31]
Up to date as of 19 November 2022.

Other uses

In August 2012 the stadium played host to two US high school American football teams, Jesuit Dallas and Loyola Academy of Wilmette, Illinois. Jesuit defeated Loyola 30–29 with a last minute game-winning field goal.[32]

The stadium has also hosted music events. For example, it hosted a Michael Bublé concert in July 2008,[33] and gigs headlined by The National and Future Islands in June 2018.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Donnybrook Pitches Are Officially Opened . Irishrugby.ie . 12 November 2014 . 16 June 2018 .
  2. Web site: Venue - Donnybrook Stadium - Dublin . TheList . 16 June 2018 .
  3. Web site: Donnybrook is now to be known as Energia Park . Irish Times . 21 March 2018 . 16 June 2018 .
  4. Web site: Donnybrook Rugby Ground To Be Redeveloped . RTÉ News . 21 September 2005 . 16 June 2018 .
  5. Web site: Donnybrook: A History by Dr. Beatrice Doran . The History Press . 2013 . donnybrookparish.ie.
  6. Web site: Proud of their history but looking to the future. Club Focus: Bective Rangers . Independent News & Media . 6 January 2017 . [Bective Rangers] club moved to their current home in Donnybrook sometime around 1910 . 16 June 2018 .
  7. Web site: Old Wesley - History - 1901–1930 . Oldwesley.ie . 16 June 2018 .
  8. Web site: Energia Park . Energia Park . 9 October 2021.
  9. Web site: Welcome to Energia Park . Energia.ie . 15 June 2018 .
  10. Web site: Donnybrook Stadium becomes Energia Park as Leinster agree 10-year naming rights partnership . Independent News & Media . 21 March 2018 . 15 June 2018 .
  11. Web site: Worldstadia - Dublin - Donnybrook Stadium . Worldstadia.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202215043/http://www.worldstadia.com/stadium/ireland/donnybrook_stadium/15275.php . 2 February 2009 .
  12. Web site: Ireland Women’s Team To Face Italy at Donnybrook Announced . Leinster Rugby . 7 February 2018 . 15 June 2018 . Ireland Women’s team [are] to take on their Italian counterparts on Sunday, 11th February, at Donnybrook Stadium for their first home game of the 2018 Women’s 6 Nations.
  13. Web site: England Women outclass Ireland in Donnybrook . RTÉ . rte.ie . 1 February 2019 . 9 February 2019 . Ireland were second best against a dominant England side as the visitors scored eight tries in a 51-7 win at Donnybrook Stadium in the Women’s Six Nations.
  14. Web site: Donnybrook is now to be known as Energia Park . Irish Times . 9 October 2021.
  15. Web site: Leinster Schools Cup Draws . Leinster Rugby . 11 December 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090318142000/http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2090.php . 18 March 2009 .
  16. Web site: Team History Archive . Irish Rugby . 7 October 2021.
  17. Web site: Ireland v Scotland - Six Nations A Rugby Championship . Sportsfile . 21 October 2021.
  18. Web site: Ireland's late salvo sinks stubborn Italians . The Guardian . 8 October 2021.
  19. Web site: Farrell's majestic play lands the crown . Irish Times . 21 October 2021.
  20. Web site: Ireland v Wales - Six Nations A Rugby Championship . Sportsfile . 21 October 2021.
  21. Web site: Irish Development XV beat Samoa . RTE . 27 May 2021.
  22. Web site: Rugby: Ireland A defeat Italy by 54 pts . Irish Examiner . 8 October 2021.
  23. Web site: Dramatic Finish at Donnybrook . Munster Rugby . 8 October 2021.
  24. Web site: McHugh kicks England into touch A International . Irish Times . 21 October 2021.
  25. Web site: Possibles make a strong case for stepping up a level . Irish Times . 21 October 2021.
  26. Web site: Team History Archive . Irish Rugby . 7 October 2021.
  27. Web site: Leinster v Italy . Imgur . 20 November 2022.
  28. Web site: 1980 Romania Tour of Ireland . World Rugby . 20 November 2022.
  29. Web site: Leinster versus USA . Imgur . 20 November 2022.
  30. Web site: ALL FIXTURES & RESULTS . Leinster rugby . 20 November 2022.
  31. Web site: Leinster run in six tries in convincing friendly victory over World Cup-bound Chile . Irish Times . 20 November 2022.
  32. News: Loyola falls to Dallas Jesuit in Dublin . 2 September 2012 . Chicago Tribune . 31 August 2012.
  33. Web site: Entertainment - Music - Pop . Independent News & Media . independent.ie . 18 July 2013 . 9 February 2019 .
  34. Web site: The National at Donnybrook stadium: Everything you need to know . Irish Times . 13 June 2018 . 15 June 2018.